Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the visa offices that operate in Irish Embassies overseas; the estimated annual running costs of each of these offices; the number and grade of staff required to resource each of these offices; the way staff have been recruited and selected for working in these offices; if he is satisfied that the recruitment and selection procedure used is in conformity with the code of practice of the Commission for Public Service Appointments; if the staff employed are paid any special allowances including rent allowance or extra remuneration to work in these offices and if so the nature of these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44345/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The cost of Visa Offices attached to Irish Embassies abroad in 2009, excluding staff costs, ranged from €65,958 to €195,260. The amount of visa fee income generated in these offices far exceed these costs. The overall staffing of these functions comprised 6 Higher Executive Officers, 12 Executive Officers and 3 Clerical Officers, distributed across Visa Office locations in Abuja, Beijing, Cairo, London, Moscow and New Delhi (Cairo has recently been replaced by an office in Abu Dhabi).

Officers are selected to serve in Visa Offices through internal competitions held by my Department and I can confirm that the selection process is conducted in accordance with the principles set down in the Commission for Public Service Appointments' Code of Practice. These posts attract the usual allowances payable in respect of all foreign postings as well as a hardship allowance (except for London). These allowances are set by the Department of Foreign Affairs and are subject to review.