Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Very briefly, programme B covers consular matters and the passport service, which connects my Department directly to individual citizens of the State both at home and abroad. Through programme B, we provide vital passport and consular services as well as outreach services to Irish communities abroad. A number of good initiatives are up and running in 2013, including the provision of more services online. An upgrade of passport machinery is planned for later this year. Current passport production targets are being met, with 81% of Passport Express applications being processed on or before the ten day commitment. More than 340,000 new passports have been provided to Irish citizens to date this year. My Department has already provided consular assistance to more than 400 Irish citizens to date in 2013, including the families of 81 citizens who died abroad and in 84 arrest cases. Experience suggests that this figure will, unfortunately, increase substantially over the summer holiday season.

As members know, I have announced that this year's global Irish economic forum will be held in Dublin Castle on 4 and 5 October and preparations are well advanced for that. Funding for the emigrant support programmes is being efficiently managed, with over €7 million already allocated from a budget of €11 million this year.