asked the Minister for Finance if a decision has been made on the location for the new customs clearance station at the Dundalk-Newry Border.

A site for a new customs road station has been purchased at Carrickcarnan adjacent to the existing frontier post. However, in view of the possible construction of a new North-South motorway the scale of the proposed development on the site at Carrickcarnan is being re-examined.

Is it intended that the customs station will be built on that site?

As I said, there is a complicating factor in this arising from the route of the new North-South motorway. We will have to look at the longer term implications of that for the siting of the customs post.

Is there a possibility that the station will not be built on that site having regard to the possible route of the North-South motorway?

The first thing I should like to say to the Deputy, and I am sure he will agree with me, is that there is general agreement on the need to move the station from the Newry road site. That is the first priority and that will move to Carrickcarnan. That is the immediate change that will be made. The longer term implications of the routing of the motorway will have to be considered and it is for that reason that I said that the scale of the development at Carrickcarnan will have to be reviewed in the light of the line of the new road.

Will the work on the building of the station commence before work on the motorway is completed or, perhaps, before it starts?

Yes. As I said, the first priority is to move the station from its present location in Dundalk out to Carrickcarnan. Longer term aspects will have to be reviewed in the light of the decision which has now been taken on the line of the new road.