Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2015
160. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of detections of illegal drugs in the west, Border and midlands region in the years 2009 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43855/15]
View answer161. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of full-time and part-time staff within the Customs and Excise section of the Revenue Commissioners who are engaged solely in the detection and investigation of illegal importation of drugs and who are based at sea ports and airports in counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43856/15]
View answer162. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff within the Customs and Excise section of the Revenue Commissioners who are detailed to investigate illegal narcotics and the illegal importation of drugs in counties Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43857/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 160 to 162, inclusive, together.
Revenue is a fully integrated tax and customs administration and I am advised by Revenue that it is not possible to disaggregate the resources deployed exclusively at any given time to the detection and investigation of illegal drugs importations. Revenue currently has approximately 2,000 staff countrywide engaged on activities that are dedicated to targeting and confronting non-compliance. These activities include anti-smuggling and anti-evasion, investigation and prosecution, audit, assurance checks, anti-avoidance, returns compliance and debt collection.
There are currently over 800 Revenue staff serving in the Border, Midlands, West Region, of which approximately 127 are engaged on these activities in the North West area.
Revenue has provided me with the following information in relation to drug detections in the Border Midlands West Region:
BORDER MIDLANDS WEST REGION DRUG SEIZURES
|
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
474 |
184 |
84 |
73 |
73 |
68 |
56 |
I am advised by Revenue that as part of its risk focused approach to the discharge of its role in this area, harbours and inlets along the coastline are monitored and evaluated on an ongoing basis from the point of view of the potential for smuggling. This work is supplemented by Revenue's Customs Drug Watch Programme, which incorporates a Coastal and Airfield reporting mechanism. This allows members of the public, coastal and local maritime communities etc. to notify us in confidence of suspect or unusual movements at sea or around the coast through our confidential 24/7 Drugs Watch free phone facility. Revenue is very active in the area of targeting and combatting drugs smuggling and is committed to playing an active role, in conjunction with other relevant agencies, in working against this criminal activity and those responsible for it.
Revenue has an enforcement presence at all key airports and ports and at other strategic locations throughout the country and place particular emphasis on developing an intelligence-based focus at both national and regional level, deploying resources to areas of highest risk. Enforcement strength at particular locations is regularly augmented with additional personnel on a risk-assessment basis, or when particular operations are taking place against illegal activity.
