asked the Minister for Finance what repairs have been carried out to customs post huts on the 26 County side of the Border in the past year; who carried out these repairs; and at what cost.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Border Customs Huts.
14.
Routine maintenance work, costing in all approximately £4,000, was carried out during the past year at customs posts in Counties Louth, Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim and Donegal. The work was done by local contractors.
It now looks as if the Border is to become a permanent feature.
That is a separate question. It does not arise.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary ever ask for a report in respect of customs offices or does he wait until things are reported?
Normal maintenance is carried out in the normal way, as and when required.
May I inquire of the Parliamentary Secretary whether the paint used on these huts was red or green, or what was the colour of the paint?
That is another separate question.
If the Deputy cares to put down a question, he will receive a reply.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary give the House an assurance in respect of these customs posts as to whether it is the policy of the Government to maintain them in a proper state of repair, because some of them are an absolute disgrace at the moment?
The Deputy's colleague, Deputy O'Hara, seemed to read something different into it. Deputy O'Hara suggests that because we maintain them properly, we want to perpetuate the Border. Deputy Harte's view is that we should maintain them better than we do at the moment.
What is your view?
I have accepted that this is the view of the Government.
I have stated my view.
I have suggested that it is the policy of the Government to maintain the Border and, if they are going to maintain the Border, would they at least keep the customs posts in a good state of repair? They are as dilapidated as the Government Front Bench.