Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

49. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason the Government is spending up to €1 million in upgrading our Embassy in Paris at a time when our elderly, disabled and persons trying to get an education are finding it so difficult to survive financially; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42894/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The renovation work taking place at the Embassy of Ireland in Paris is primarily to upgrade the Consular offices located in the basement which have little or no natural light. It is necessary to carry out this work at this time as the offices have not been upgraded since 1992 and, as a result, are in serious need of renovation to meet current health and safety standards for a work-place and for public offices in France.The ventilation, lighting and flooring of the offices and public waiting area are being replaced to ensure that the conditions for our staff working there and for the general public are in conformity with health and safety regulations. The public office will also facilitate disabled access by the installation of toilet facilities and a disabled access public counter. The technical installations of the Embassy, notably electricity, plumbing and heating, are also located in the basement area and are being modernised at the same time to ensure greater efficiency, economy and reliability following numerous problems in recent years. The current estimate for the work is in the order of €700,000.