Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also wish to record my appreciation for the work of staff in the Passport Office. We are on to it constantly and we appreciate its help. I note the substantial increase in capital funding for office premises. Have there been any successful efforts to reduce the costs of official residences and chanceries?

As regards the diaspora, we appreciate the emigrants' support programme. Immigration reform and the political situation in the United States is of concern to many families throughout this country, given the undocumented Irish in the US. Following the Minister's recent visit there, can he see any reasons for optimism about immigration reform in the US?

The Peace and Reconciliation Programme has been valuable for the most disadvantaged communities in Northern Ireland and the Border area generally. Could any available funding be rolled out as early as possible this year? Many communities in Northern Ireland feel vulnerable at this stage. We cannot quantify the angst and worry for such communities due to the referendum decision on the UK's membership of the EU. A clear message should be sent that our support for various projects will continue. I acknowledge the interaction of the Minister and his ministerial colleague, Deputy Donohoe, at the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. We must give strong reassurances that the various programmes funded by the Department and through INTERREG and the peace programmes, will be continued beyond 2020. A message must go out to communities that the valuable supports and programmes that have been in place since the late 1990s will be continued. Many of the most disadvantaged communities have benefitted from those programmes.