Written Answers Nos. 159-178
159. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any State or semi-State bodies that report to him are currently or have been registered as a charity; the reason for the charity status; the person or body that holds primacy for accountability in those instances, whether the Minister or the Charities Regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35008/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no State or semi-State bodies under the remit of my Department.
160. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of processing the backlog of applications to the foreign birth registry; when an application will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35033/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to the complex nature of the Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) process, the large increase in applications received following the Brexit vote in the UK, and the pause in the service due to necessary Covid-19 restrictions, applicants should allow approximately 2 years from the receipt of supporting documentation for processing of FBR applications at this time.
Arising from Covid-19 restrictions, and the subsequent reassignment of FBR staff to assist in the provision of essential passport services, the Foreign Birth Registration Service was paused for nearly 15 months across the 2020-2021 period.
The processing of Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) resumed in November 2021. FBR staff have since processed over 7,000 FBR applications while also continuing to provide support to passport services due to the unprecedented levels of passport demand.
There are currently 39,000 FBR applications on hand with the Passport Service.
The FBR Service provides an emergency service for Foreign Birth Registration in cases of exceptional urgency, such as expectant parents, or stateless persons. Such applicants may continue to contact the Passport Service directly. For other applications, the FBR service operates a transparent general policy of processing applications in order of receipt.
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has referred, this application was registered on 7 July 2020 and is being stored in a secure environment.
The Passport Service has been scaling up resources to deal with anticipated demand for passports and FBRs since June of last year. A major recruitment drive, in partnership with the Public Appointments Service, has been underway since 2021. In addition, the Passport Service has run its own recruitment competition for Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs). The Department has also been working with the HSE to provide opportunities to contact tracing staff to transfer to the Passport Service. As of 20 June, these staff have begun to be assigned to the Customer Service Hub, which will further increase the number of staff answering customer queries. This recruitment effort will bring staffing numbers at the Passport Service to over 900 which represents double the number of staff with the Passport Service in June of last year.
The unprecedented level of staff currently working in the Passport Service will be maintained in the months ahead. This will allow for the reassignment of additional staff to the processing of FBR applications with the aim of significantly reducing turnaround times for these applications by the end of this year.
161. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will examine and expedite a passport application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35047/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra172. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that this application has been with the Passport Office since 3 April 2022. [35147/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra173. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport renewal application for a child (details supplied) given that the target issue date is the day before the travel date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35164/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra174. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35165/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 172 to 174, inclusive, together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, these applications are within the current turnaround times and have not yet reached their issue by date.
162. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he can assist with locating and returning a passport submitted with a passport application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35060/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service is investigating the case and is in direct contact with the applicant in relation to same.
163. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue in time for persons (details supplied) in County Derry who are travelling on 1 July 2022 given that the estimated date of issue has passed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35075/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra165. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application of a person (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and applicant’s travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35107/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra166. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application of a person (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and applicant’s travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35108/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra167. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a child (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and applicant’s travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35109/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra168. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and applicants travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35112/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra170. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a child (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35118/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra171. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport for a child (details supplied) will be expedited. [35119/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra175. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a child (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and applicant’s travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35171/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 163, 165 to 168, inclusive, 170, 171 and 175 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicant.
164. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of passport applications for children (details supplied) given that they have exceeded the target issue date and applicants’ travel dates are imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35106/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra169. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35117/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 169 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has reviewed the applications and progressed as appropriate.
176. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Defence if any State or semi-State bodies that report to him are currently or have been registered as a charity; the reason for the charity status; the person or body that holds primacy for accountability in those instances, whether the Minister or the Charities Regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35003/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe only State body under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act 1927 to provide for the payment of pensions, allowances and gratuities in certain circumstances to members of the Defence Forces. The Army Pensions Board is not registered as a charity.
177. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Defence his plans to address uniformity of pension entitlements in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35097/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe occupational pension (superannuation) entitlement of members of the Defence Forces depend on the date the person joins the Defence Forces, and also on their specific circumstances and on many variables including rank, pensionable service and pensionable remuneration.
The main dates of joining that dictate a difference in what pension terms apply are:
- before 1 April 2004,
- after 1 April 2004 but before 1 January 2013,
- after 1 January 2013
For officers in the Defence Forces, there are also differences between the pension terms and benefits of those officers who joined before 6 April 1995 (on ‘modified’ PRSI – Class C) or joined on or after 6 April 1995 (on full PRSI – Class A). For those who join on or after 6 April 1995 and are fully covered for PRSI, their contributions and benefits are subject to integration with the State Pension Contributory.
All superannuation benefits and entitlements under the Defence Forces Superannuation Schemes are governed by the relevant rules, terms and conditions made pursuant to the Defence Forces Pensions Acts 1932 to 2004 and the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 and other relevant provisions, agreements, arrangements, circulars and/or other instruments, which together comprise the schemes, and are also subject to any other relevant legislation and to public service pensions policy.
The administration and management of Defence Forces superannuation arrangements including the calculation and award of benefits to members and their dependants, is carried out by the Department of Defence. Similar to other public service pension schemes, the superannuation benefits payable to Defence Forces Scheme members and/or their dependants are clearly stated in the rules of the relevant pension scheme. Payment of entitlements can only be made in accordance with these rules.
There are no plans to make any changes to existing pension entitlements of Defence Forces members. Given the many variables involved it is inevitable that there is not uniformity in pension entitlements and that there are many personnel employed on different pension regimes. However, the Defence Forces scheme rules are in keeping with public service pension policy and, in general, follow the same principles that apply across the public service.
178. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Defence his plans to address the administrative costs relating to the pensions of veterans who live abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35098/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Army Pensions Vote (Vote 35) provides for retired pay, pensions, compensation, allowances and gratuities payable in respect of members of the Defence Forces and certain other military organisations, etc.
All benefits are governed by the relevant rules, terms and conditions made pursuant to the Defence Forces Pensions Acts 1932 to 2004, the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, the Army Pensions Acts 1923 to 1980 (as amended) and other relevant provisions, agreements, arrangements, circulars and/or other instruments, which together comprise the schemes, and are also subject to any other relevant legislation and to public service pensions policy.
All military pensioners are paid electronically. For those who are living outside the State their pensions are generally paid electronically into financial accounts within this State or within the Single European Payments Area (SEPA). For some who are living outside SEPA, their pensions are paid individually through a Citibank foreign payments facility. The pension recipient bears the monthly cost of this Citibank facility. The payments are made in Euro and all foreign bank charges and foreign exchange risks are borne by the recipients. All obligations regarding the payment of pensions are considered discharged once the payment has been lodged to the relevant account.
