Vol. 433 No. 7
67 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to improve the conditions for clients awaiting service in the Dublin Passport Office; the plans, if any, he has to paint and refurbish the waiting room; and if he will have arrangements made for a small facility or stall whereby tea and other such refreshments can be provided on a commercial basis either by direct labour or the concession of a stall to be leased out by open tender.
My Department is in discussion with the Office of Public Works with a view to acquiring extra space for the Passport Office, Dublin to address current space constraints. The public office is refurbished on a regular basis and there are plans to repaint it in the autumn.
Consideration had been given previously to the provision of refreshments in the Passport Office; however, following examination, it was concluded that the central location of the office provides easy access to existing commercial outlets in the area and that additional facilities in the Passport Office would not be warranted.
