Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 596: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of ambassador, assistant secretary and secretary general level posts that exist within his Department; the number of these postings that are dangerous postings; the additional allowances, additional leave and additional benefits provided for these posts; the cost of same; if he will provide these figures for 2008 and the anticipated figures for 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11670/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's Ambassadors are primarily drawn from the rank of Assistant Secretary and Counsellor/Principal Officer within the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The authorised number of high level posts in the Department of Foreign Affairs comprises one Secretary General, four Second Secretaries, five Deputy Secretaries and 42 Assistant Secretaries. Of these 52 posts, 38 are assigned to Ambassadorial posts. In addition, there are 25 Counsellors/Principal Officers and one First Secretary also serving as Ambassadors.

29 of these Ambassadors are assigned to locations which are designated as "hardship" posts. This designation takes account of local factors such as security, health, climate, cultural affinity and general quality of life. Posts are graded according to the level of hardship, ranging from Grade I (highest) to Grade III.

A hardship allowance is paid, as part of the overall system of Foreign Service allowances, to compensate officers serving in such locations. The amount paid to an officer varies according to grade, the degree of hardship and the local cost of living. The total cost of the payment of this allowance to eligible Ambassadors in 2008 was approximately €274,000 and is estimated to be €298,000 in 2009.

The Ambassador in hardship locations, regardless of grade, receives an entitlement of up to 20 days additional annual leave per year. However, in many cases, officers do not have the opportunity to avail of this leave due to pressure of work and resource constraints.

Officers assigned to the posts which are placed in the two higher categories of "hardship" (Grades I and II) Officers assigned to the posts which are placed in the two higher categories of "hardship" (Grades I and II) are also entitled to a "getting out trip" once per year up to the cost of an economy rate return fare to Ireland. The total cost of such travel by eligible officers and their families in 2008 was in the region of €32,000 and it is anticipated that the cost in 2009 will be similar.

The Department's management has in principle approved a new approach for the regulation of hardship posts. When implemented, this will replace the current arrangements with a more flexible and transparent system which will allow hardship levels at various locations be reviewed more frequently in line with changing local conditions and, if appropriate, re-designated. The new proposals include changes to the calculation of hardship allowances, a reduction in the number of posts designated as hardship, increasing the categories of hardship from the current three to five and a reduction in the additional leave allowance.

Discussions with the staff associations on the proposed changes to this system are ongoing, and subject to their outcome, it is planned to implement the new system later this year.