Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 22 May 1991

Vol. 408 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Manorhamilton (Leitrim) Customs Post.

Andrew Boylan

Ceist:

15 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the inconvenience caused at the Manorhamilton customs post, County Leitrim to traffic and hauliers both exporting to Northern Ireland and materials coming to the South due to the short hours of operation from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. excluding lunch hours; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that perishable goods have had to be destroyed as a result of the unsuitable opening hours and that additional costs are incurred to the haulier, should he require the customs officer to remain on duty after 6 p.m.; if he will now consider changing this system in the interest of all concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Mr. A. Reynolds

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that attendance for the clearance of merchandise is provided free of charge at Manorhamilton Road Station, County Leitrim, between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all days except Sundays and public holidays. This attendance is continuous except on Saturdays, and other infrequent occasions when, if the volume of traffic permits, the office is closed during lunch hour. Additional attendance outside normal hours is provided, on prior request, between 8 a.m. — 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. — 8 p.m. from Monday to Friday on payment of a fee currently £5 per load of merchandise. This fee is designed to cover the cost to the State of providing this additional service. Requests for attendance outside these days and hours are granted only in urgent cases. No instance where perishable goods have had to be destroyed as a result of delays or refusal to grant extra attendance has come to the notice of the Revenue Commissioners. Staffing levels and hours of attendance are constantly reviewed and it is considered that the position at Manorhamilton Road Station is adequate to deal with the volume of commercial traffic through that route. Accordingly, it is not proposed to alter present arrangements.

Mr. Boylan

The Minister's reply stated the case as we know it exists. The situation is totally unsatisfactory. Is the Minister aware of the considerable delays being experienced by people who after queueing for two to three hours find when they have almost reached the post that the person in charge breaks for lunch, adding a further hour to their delay? In this day and age when people are trying to meet deadlines that is not satisfactory. I ask the Minister to review the situation. Is the Minister further aware that this is the only crossing point within reach of people in the Blacklion area and that the alternative is to go to Clones or to Swanlinbar, which is open only occasionally? I understand that Clones is open on a full-time basis but it is not within reach of people who are travelling to the west.

Mr. A. Reynolds

If the Deputy has proof of the delays he is talking about I would be glad to have them and I will take up the matter with the customs authorities. The position at the post is considered to be adequate by the customs authorities at present. About 18 months ago we had representations to the effect that we should not be facilitating by keeping borders open all hours of the day and night some of the people who are importing materials to that part of the world, affecting small blockmakers and so on. We get different opinions from different parts of the country.

Mr. Boylan

May I suggest to the Minister that he abolish the post altogether?

Mr. A. Reynolds

We will be doing that in 1993.

Mr. Boylan

Can we not start, in the lead up to 1993, on a phased basis? People who are anxious to do business both North and South are experiencing considerable delay. We cannot be seen to be creating barriers. Will the Minister give an undertaking to review the matter?

Mr. A. Reynolds

Based on what the Deputy has said, I will take it up with customs authorities.

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick East): A former leader of my party, the late James Dillon, said we had the only navy which went on a lunch break; he claimed he saw them cycling up O'Connell Street at lunch time one day. Is the Minister telling us that in a country whose official policy is that we will get to prosperity through international trade he is standing over a situation where customs officers go on lunch breaks and lorry traffic has to wait until they return from lunch across the international frontier?

Mr. A. Reynolds

That is not what I said.

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick East): Will he confirm that this is the only customs post where lunch breaks are taken and the post remains unmanned or would he rather name the other posts where customs officials go on lunch breaks also?

An Ceann Comhairle

This question refers to Manorhamilton; I cannot allow an extension.

Mr. A. Reynolds

They are taken when there is no traffic around. I will take up the complaint from Deputy Boylan in relation to this.

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick East): Have lorries to wait until the officials come back from lunch?

Mr. A. Reynolds

I was only remarking on representations from the same part of the country from which the Deputy comes that facilities not be made available to people who are doing people here out of business.

Mr. McCormack

Is the Minister aware that all the tourist traffic to the west goes through the post at Manorhamilton and people are being frustrated in that regard? Will the Minister do something now that we are entering the tourist season to avoid those long delays?

Mr. A. Reynolds

I am surprised that a Deputy, whose native county is Longford, should not be aware that most of the tourists from the North of Ireland to Galway — the area he now represents — go through Longford, Edgeworthstown, Athlone and Ballymahon. Perhaps Manorhamilton serves a small corner in County Sligo and County Mayo but by and large the main tourist traffic route from the North is through the Deputy's own native country.

Mr. McCormack

Thank you very much, Minister.

Mr. V. Brady

One learns something new every day.

Mr. McCormack

I knew that much.