Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence
Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Supplementary)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Supplementary)
Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Yes. The renewals are outstanding. There are no plans to open other offices. People have asked for other areas to be considered as well but new offices are not required given that more than 90% of people are doing it online. Three years ago, the footfall was high but that has fallen away now. There are no immediate plans for a new office. We think the system has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years in terms of efficiency, so there are no plans at this stage to open an additional office in Belfast. The line for public representatives and MLAs to have direct access, similar to Oireachtas Members, is helping the situation.