Thank you, Sir, for allowing me to raise this matter. I raised it last April, following which the customs office in Castletownbere was opened during the summer, but closed again at the beginning of this month. As well as closing down that artery of the State to an outlying peninsula, the dole office was closed in the same week. Castletownbere, a major fishing port with access to one of the busiest traffic lanes for pleasure and fishing craft off the south-west coast, has been left without the presence of a customs official. The customs officers who operate off the south-west coast are very badly equipped. Last week Deputy Deasy outlined the pathetic resources made available to such officers to fight the drug barons off the Wexford-Waterford coast. Some of the largest drug hauls in Europe have been found off the south-west coast, yet some customs officers in the area do not even have a car radio or a cellular phone. To make contact with headquarters they must borrow a few pence from their wives or neighbours and make such calls from a telephone kiosk, and to make matters worse the customs office in Castletownbere has been closed.
I know from my contacts with Customs officers that they brought many suspect vessels to the attention of the mobile service. I cannot understand why a large area of coastline is left without Customs officers. The coat of arms of Cork Statio Bene Fida Carinis, could be applied to Castletownbere because we welcome these barons with open arms and they may as well make the most of it because we are not particularly concerned.
I was informed in April by the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Higgins, that the deployment of Customs personnel at Castletownbere would be kept under continuing review. Speeches such as that were once written for me, but I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, will be more positive tonight. Has the continuing review produced any results, or how often was the position in Castletownbere appraised by Department officials? Does the fact that drug smuggling continues in this area not signal the urgent need for a permanent and adequately staffed Customs service? There is only one member of staff there at present, Mr. Carey from Adrigole, a very fine individual who has to drive to Bantry and back to Castletownbere, a distance of more than 30 miles. Considering the cost of travelling and subsistence expenses, there is no saving in that regard. Somebody should tell the officials in Dublin that the present position is crazy. A properly serviced and resourced Customs office at Castletownbere should be a priority. The Minister should rethink the decision on this matter and provide support to the Garda, the Naval Service and the Customs officers to help combat the drugs problem on the south-west coast.
