Diplomatic Representation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 April 2012

Thursday, 19 April 2012

Questions (71)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

68 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff by grade and the cost of and operation of the Irish embassies in Portugal, Turkey, Switzerland, Lithuania, India and Finland for the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19671/12]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore)

A table providing the information on staffing and operating costs for the overseas Missions in question is set out. The staffing figures take account of diplomatic staff, local staff engaged by the Mission and, in the case of New Delhi, visa office staff whose salaries and other costs are borne by the Department of Justice and Equality. Also included is a small number of staff indirectly engaged through local employment agencies, some on a temporary basis.

The annual costs included in the table are the administrative costs of operating the Mission. The figures do not include the salaries of the Irish based staff as these are a charge on the overall salaries budget of the Department rather than on a specific Mission. In the case of Lisbon, Ankara and Berne, the official residence is state-owned whereas in Vilnius, New Delhi and Helsinki the rental costs for premises are a charge on the Mission budget.

Also, from time to time Missions may incur significant expenditure in relation to their premises or for upgrading of essential infrastructure. These costs are not included in the annual administrative costs as detailed in the table as they are a charge on the overall budget of the Department.

Embassy	Number	Staff	Notes	Outturn 2007 €	Outturn 2008 €	Outturn 2009 €	Outturn 2010 €	Outturn 2011 €
Portugal	1	Ambassador		407,681	421,384	376,881	347,406	427,883
	1	First Secretary
	1	Personal Assistant	Locally employed
	1	Clerk Secretary	Locally employed
	1	Driver/Messenger	Locally employed
Turkey	1	Ambassador		477,648	412,782	389,863	394,114	379,651
	1	First Secretary
	1	Third Secretary
	1	Personal Assistant	Locally employed
	2	Clerk Secretaries	Locally employed
	1	Driver/Messenger	Locally employed
Switzerland	1	Ambassador		473,573	437,412	427,988	429,447	499,593
	1	Third Secretary
	2	Clerk Secretaries	Locally employed
	1	Driver/Messenger	Locally employed
Lithuania	1	Ambassador		478,672	471,881	452,427	426,413	414,957
	1	Third Secretary
	1	Personal Assistant	Locally employed**
	1	Clerk Secretary	Locally employed**
	1	Driver/Messenger	Locally employed**
India	1	Ambassador		727,969	746,064	474,056	743,338	668,436
	1	First Secretary/AP
	1	Third Secretary
	1	Higher Executive Officer	Visa Office*
	3	Executive Officer	Visa Office*
	1	Office Manager	Locally employed
	1	Executive Assistant	Locally employed
	1	Visa Manager	Locally employed*
	2	Clerk Secretaries	Locally employed
	4	Visa Clerks	Locally employed*
	2	Driver/Messenger	Locally employed
	2	Watchmen	Locally Employed
	2	Chancery Cleaner	Locally Employed
Finland	1	Ambassador		567,319	440,335	560,166	526,400	508,919
	1	Third Secretary
	2	Clerk Secretaries	Locally employed
	1	Driver/Messenger	Locally employed

*Visa Office staff.

**Staff contracted through agencies.