Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Chairman. The focus of programme E will be on strengthening our corporate performance with a view towards an improved level of public service. This will include enhanced corporate governance, increased public diplomacy, strong commitment to transparency, customer satisfaction engagement and reviewing and upgrading key corporate processes and procedures. The allocation is €39.3 million compared with €41 million in 2016. In addition to these areas of focus mentioned, my Department will also work to enhance services through the medium of Irish. Indeed customer service, and I mentioned this in the context of the passport, is at the heart of our work.

I referred earlier to the passport issue. Again I would be happy to keep the committee fully informed.

Public communications in providing travel advice and consular information have been transformed. The consular services division is faced with requests from increasing numbers of people, many of whom find themselves in great difficulty and require immediate attention. I acknowledge the great professionalism of the consular services. Their work is often done out of office hours and at weekends in dealing with difficult emergencies. There is a particular focus on the ongoing operation of the Department's web and social media presence. I urge committee members, in their engagements with constituents, to highlight how the Department's website is a mine of helpful travel information. There is also the new smartphone app, TravelWise, which was launched last year and is a must for anyone who is travelling, particularly young people travelling to the United States under the new recently announced J1 visa scheme.

Programme F deals with income accruing in appropriations-in-aid. Total income in appropriations-in-aid in 2017 is estimated at over €45 million. Passport, citizenship, visa and other consular fees are set by way of a statutory instrument issued under section 3 of the Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Provision of Services) Act 1993.