Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 360: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposed spending envelopes approved and set out by his Department for the foreseeable future; the broad objectives to be achieved by spending of such financial envelopes; the timescale set out for achievement of targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25966/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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This Department's capital spending envelope for the five year period 2006 to 2010 is €111 million distributed as follows:

While a small proportion of My Department's capital funding is attributed to Vote 29 (International Co-operation), the bulk of the allocation is contained in Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and is focused on three specific areas. First, the purchase of premises for our Missions abroad, where it is economically advantageous to do so, and major maintenance projects on existing State owned premises. While the State owns 29 Mission properties abroad, the majority of our Mission premises are leased. The Department has identified Missions where it makes good business sense to buy, rather than rent, premises and is currently actively pursuing a number of purchase options. In order to maintain their representational quality and effectiveness, the Department is also undertaking a number of major maintenance projects in State owned premises abroad. The capital allocation for our Missions also includes provision for furniture and fittings in selected Chanceries and official Residences.

The second area of the Department's capital spending focuses on the renewal and upgrading of the Department's ICT infrastructure, including its Automated Passport Services (APS) Project. With 76 offices outside of the State, the efficient business management of the Department requires that it has a secure and effective information and communications network. This requires ongoing maintenance and investment. A particular ICT priority for this year is the completion of the Department's Global Communications Network. In addition, in a further development of the APS Project, the Department's capital allocation for 2006 provides for the introduction of a biometric feature in Irish passports.

Finally, the third, and relatively modest, element of the Department's capital budget relates to the purchase of official vehicles at Missions abroad. While most of these are official cars for Heads of Mission, they would also include heavy vehicles in our Development Aid Missions. Subject to budgetary constraints, the normal practice is to replace official vehicles at three year intervals. With regard to targets, the Deputy will appreciate that the fluidity of property markets makes it very difficult to estimate timescales for the completion of purchases in specific locations. Nevertheless, consistent with the imperative of achieving good value for money, the Department is planning to purchase a small number of Mission premises in 2006. The ICT and vehicle purchase programmes will be ongoing over the 2006-2010 period. However, the Deputy may be interested to know that the Biometrics Project is scheduled for completion in October 2006 and will be delivered on time and to budget.