Vol. 417 No. 1
124 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the stated aim of the Revenue Commissioners to close the Newry Road (Dundalk) Custom and Excise station and to keep open the station at Carrickarnon, he will give details of what will happen to the Newry Road station plot and buildings once it is closed; if he will outline the use he will make of the Carrickarnon station, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
While the completion of the EC Single Market at the end of 1992 will mean the elimination of customs checks on traffic enroute to/from other member states it will be necessary to maintain a customs office in the Dundalk area to deal with non-Community trade and to facilitate any other revenue transactions. For a number of reasons — in particular, the completion of the planned Dundalk bypass relief road — the Carrickarnon offices are the most suitably located for these purposes.
The question of the extent to which the Newry Road office and any spare capacity which may arise at the Carrickarnon offices can be effectively utilised by Revenue post-1992 are matters which are presently being considered by the Office of Public Works in consultation with the Revenue Commissioners.
If it is found that the Newry Road office and any spare capacity at the Carrickarnon offices is surplus to requirements the State's interest will be put on the open market for disposal.
