asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that considerable expense and delay are caused to the traders of Pettigo, due to the Customs arrangements; whether dutiable goods are carried on to Ballyshannon, a distance of about twenty miles, on the Great Northern Railway, and extra carriage charged on these goods; and whether he will make such arrangements as will avoid this expense and delay.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PETTIGO TRADERS AND CUSTOMS ARRANGEMENTS.
Dutiable goods imported at Pettigo by rail from Northern Ireland are required to be produced at Ballyshannon for Customs examination, in accordance with the provisions of the Customs (Land Frontier) Regulations.
If such examination is desired at any time by a trader at Pettigo for the purpose of obviating conveyance of his goods to Ballyshannon, the attendance of a Customs Officer may be obtained for the purpose, provided prior application is made to the local Customs official in charge, in sufficient time to enable the necessary arrangements to be made. The expense of such attendance must be borne by the trader.
Are there not already seven or eight Customs officials at Pettigo and could they not deal with this matter without the extra expense of bringing a Customs officer there?
There is no Customs officer there and there is not sufficient trade to justify the keeping of a Customs officer there permanently.