Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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329. To ask the Minister for Finance the date on which the new Revenue Commissioners customs cutter vessels will be fully operational, and the number of Revenue Commissioners staff, by grade, that have been fully trained in the use of the new cutter vessels. [51833/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I have been advised that Revenue’s new Customs cutter, RCC Cosaint, was delivered in August 2025. Since its delivery, Revenue’s Maritime Unit (RMU) has engaged in training and familiarisation exercises and the new vessel has progressively transitioned to active operational service, including the undertaking of initial patrol exercises. It is expected that this process will be fully completed in the coming weeks, at which point the RCC Cosaint will take up full patrol duties.

The RMU has sanction for 29 officers with the necessary skills and qualifications for sea-going duties, broken down as follows:

I fully support Revenue having the necessary resources to fulfil its mandate in respect of its responsibilities, responsibilities that are critical for its effective functioning as a tax and customs administration and for the effective functioning of the State generally.