376. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of whole-time equivalent Revenue customs officers, detector dogs and items of scanning equipment, including X-ray and backscatter units, assigned to each frontier management branch in each of the years 2020 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73680/26]

379. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the ports, airports and other points of entry covered by each of Revenue's frontier management branches, namely, FMB Dublin Port, FMB Dublin Airport, south-east FMB, south FMB and east-west FMB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73676/26]

Simon Harris, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 379 together.

I am advised by Revenue that it deploys a wide range of measures to detect and target smuggling activities and takes all appropriate measures to detect and combat such activities to include, where appropriate, prosecution of those involved.

Revenue’s operational requirements, and its arrangements for the deployment and use of detection technologies and resources – including x-ray scanners, electronic risk analysis tools and maritime cutters – are kept under continuous review. This review is informed by ongoing risk assessments of smuggling and related criminal activities, as well as evolving operational needs.

As part of its risk-focused approach, Revenue monitors and evaluates all ports, harbours and coastal inlets on an ongoing basis to identify potential risks, including those relating to drug smuggling. Revenue’s analytical capability is supplemented by its Customs Drug Watch Programme, which encourages members of the public, and coastal and local maritime communities, to report suspect or unusual activity at sea or along the coastline via a confidential 24/7 helpline (1800 295 295). In addition, Revenue is an active participant in Coastal Watch, a multi-agency, Garda-led initiative aimed at preventing and detecting illegal activity and promoting vigilance among coastal communities and the wide range of organisations and agencies operating at sea and along our coasts and harbours.

Given the global nature of the illicit smuggling trade, international law enforcement cooperation is a key element of Revenue’s overall response. Revenue has strong and strategic partnerships at international level targeting illicit smuggling, working closely with relevant law enforcement agencies such as Europol and the Maritime Analysis Operations Centre for Narcotics (MAOC-N). Revenue liaison officers are stationed in both Europol and MAOC-N, ensuring Revenue is at the forefront of anti-smuggling enforcement at international level. These officers work closely with international counterparts to identify the transnational risks associated with illicit smuggling into the State. Furthermore, Revenue is an active participant, along with its national and EU partners, in initiatives under the umbrella of the EU Roadmap to Tackle Drugs and Organised Crime. These initiatives, including the European Ports Alliance, provide for EU-wide collaboration and information sharing on best practices to increase security and resilience in tackling the threat posed by drug trafficking, illicit smuggling and organised crime.

I am further advised that Revenue’s enforcement teams work closely with HMRC under the Cross Border Joint Agency Task Force (JATF) framework in tackling cross-border movements of illicit trade. The smuggling of excisable products has a transnational and cross-border dimension and, in addition to Revenue’s ongoing cooperation with An Garda Síochána in this area, Revenue also works closely with its counterparts in other jurisdictions, including colleagues in Northern Ireland through the JATF, to address cross-border smuggling and dismantle organised crime networks involved in the illegal tobacco market.

Revenue advised me that alongside the detection equipment and technologies deployed at the main points of entry, Revenue has a dedicated Maritime Unit and operates two cutters. The Maritime Unit has a national remit to patrol and monitor internal waters, territorial seas and adjacent waters. These patrol and monitoring activities are aimed at the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of illegal importations and exportations of prohibited and restricted goods, including drugs.

Revenue staff are deployed on a 24/7 or full-time basis at larger ports and airports, while smaller regional facilities are subject to risk-based, unannounced or intelligence-led checks. Revenue’s attendance at such ports and airports is kept under regular review, having regard to ongoing risk assessments of smuggling trends.

Overall, more than 900 Revenue staff are assigned across ports, airports, mail centres, national profiling and risk assessment units, and inland teams, dedicated to enforcing customs controls and protecting the integrity of those controls in respect of all excisable products, including tobacco.

The number of detection dogs deployed as at year end for 2020 to 2025 and at the end of September 2026 is as follows:

*An additional four dogs are currently in training and will be deployed in November 2026.

I am informed by Revenue that the suite of X-ray scanners available to officers at the main points of entry ranges from handheld devices for small packages, to baggage scanners for passenger luggage and parcels, and mobile scanners for vehicles and containers. Revenue’s X-ray container scanning capacity, comprising three mobile container units and a backscatter van, can be deployed to any port or other relevant location, such as warehouses, throughout the country, having regard to risk and operational requirements.

In addition to this, as part of the redevelopment of Rosslare Europort, a new high energy X-ray gantry system was deployed in October 2025. This is the first high energy X-ray gantry system to be deployed in the State and is used to scan containerised freight and vehicles as required.

In 2026, Revenue received funding to procure another specialised backscatter van (expected delivery in 2027). This is in addition to the current backscatter van based in Dublin Port. A backscatter van is a low power X-ray scanner mounted in a standard van that is used to scan vehicles, trailers and other light vehicles.

This Government has been consistent in its strong support for ensuring that Revenue has the necessary resources to fulfil its mandate in respect of functions that are critical for its effective functioning as a tax and customs administration and I remain open to considering any proposals from Revenue that will support its work in combatting fraud, illicit trade and smuggling.