asked the Minister for Finance in respect of the customs and excise service for the years (i) 1987 and (ii) 1988: (a) the total number of persons employed, (b) the total number of officers employed at ports and airports, (c) the total number of persons employed at or near the land frontier, (d) the total number of arrests made, (e) the total number of seizures of goods, (f) the total value of goods seized, (g) the total amount of fines imposed in respect of customs and excise offences, (h) the total amount of fines recovered, (i) the total number of persons sentenced to imprisonment for custom and excise offences and (j) the total number of persons serving sentences for custom and excise offences.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Customs and Excise Service.
9.
The information requested, so far as it is available, is in the form of a tabular statement and I propose to circulate it with the Official Report. Details are as follows:
|
1987 |
1988 |
|
|
(a) Total number of staff employed |
1,750 |
1,658 |
|
(b) Total number of staff employed at ports and airports |
550 |
582 |
|
(c) Total number of staff employed at or near the land frontier |
354 |
298 |
|
(d) Total number of arrests made |
16 |
22 |
|
(e) Total number of seizers of goods |
10,277 |
7,176 |
|
(f) Total value of goods seized |
£6.0m (est.)(1) |
£7.8m (est.)(1) |
|
(g) Total amount of penalties imposed |
£250,715(2) |
£332,798(2) |
|
(h) Total amount of penalties recovered |
not available(3) |
not available(3) |
|
(i) Total number of persons sentenced to imprisonment |
none |
none |
|
(j) Total number of persons serving sentences |
none(4) |
none(4) |
(1)The estimated values shown relate to seizures of uncustomed goods. It is not possible to give an estimate of the total value of seizures for excise as relevant data are not available.
(2)The figures relate to penalties imposed by the courts.
(3)The recovery of penalties is a function of the courts.
(4) One person was imprisoned in 1987 and two persons were imprisoned in 1988 for failing to pay court penalties imposed for breaches of excise law. They were released subsequently when the amounts involved were paid.
(Limerick East): Does the tabular statement specify the number of drug related offences?
The Deputy should await the issue of the tabular statement.
No, I do not see that on it.