Joe Walsh
Question:54 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, he has for the reopening of the Customs and Excise Office at Castletownbere, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13190/95]
Written Answers. - County Cork Office Accommodation.
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they are satisfied that the most effective means of providing a Customs Service in the Bantry Bay/Beara Peninsula area is to have staff centralised in and operating from Bantry, and deployed on a flexible basis to various locations, including Castletownbere, as required, to meet the needs of the work.
The Commissioners recognise that because of the large concentration of fishing vessels in Castletownbere at certain times of the year, the full time assignment of an officer of Customs and Excise during the peak period is warranted. Full time attendance has, in fact, been given from March to the end of August, to cater for the peak fishing period.
Outside the peak fishing period, the Commissioners cannot accept that a sufficient volume of work exists to justify the full-time attendance of an officer of Customs and Excise. In the off peak season, therefore, the best means of providing a customs service, is as already stated, by the deployment of staff from Bantry on a flexible basis. In these circumstances, the Commissioners do not deem it necessary to re-open the Customs office in Castletownbere on a full-time basis, but they will keep the situation there under constant review.