Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 68: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff by grade and the cost of and operation of the Irish embassies in Portugal, Turkey, Switzerland, Lithuania, India and Finland for the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19671/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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A table providing the information on staffing and operating costs for the overseas Missions in question is set out. The staffing figures take account of diplomatic staff, local staff engaged by the Mission and, in the case of New Delhi, visa office staff whose salaries and other costs are borne by the Department of Justice and Equality. Also included is a small number of staff indirectly engaged through local employment agencies, some on a temporary basis.

The annual costs included in the table are the administrative costs of operating the Mission. The figures do not include the salaries of the Irish based staff as these are a charge on the overall salaries budget of the Department rather than on a specific Mission. In the case of Lisbon, Ankara and Berne, the official residence is state-owned whereas in Vilnius, New Delhi and Helsinki the rental costs for premises are a charge on the Mission budget.

Also, from time to time Missions may incur significant expenditure in relation to their premises or for upgrading of essential infrastructure. These costs are not included in the annual administrative costs as detailed in the table as they are a charge on the overall budget of the Department.

*Visa Office staff

**Staff contracted through agencies