asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the inordinate delays taking place on the Border customs and excise point for the haulage of cattle to Northern Ireland on the Dundalk-Newry road; if he is aware that some hauliers are being made to wait for six hours in order to obtain clearance; the steps he is taking to resolve the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Cattle Haulage.
494.
Exporters of cattle to Northern Ireland by the Dundalk-Newry road are required to pay certain levies due at Dundalk customs station and subsequently to present the cattle to customs for export clearance at the customs frontier post at Carrickcarnan. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that there are no inordinate delays on the part of customs at either stage of these export procedures, where the appropriate payments and documentation are in order. Depending on the volume of traffic at the time, customs clearance takes between 15 minutes and a maximum of one hour to complete.