Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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68. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the representational allowances paid to staff working overseas in embassies, consular offices and other areas, under the following headings; the grade of staff to whom these allowances are paid; the amount of the allowance per person per year; the reason for the allowance whether they are vouched or unvouched; the number of staff that benefitted from these payments; if they are paid for the acquisition of private possessions or are purchases the property of the State; the total amount expended on these allowances overall; and an average figure per embassy or consular office per eligible staff member; and if there are any plans to change this. [44088/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Officers serving at diplomatic missions abroad are required to carry out certain representational duties in line with both the Department’s strategies and mission business plans. Official promotion forms a significant part of the workload of all missions and plays an important part in the achievement of mission and Departmental objectives, including the promotion of Ireland’s political, economic, trade and cultural interests in the European Union and the wider world. A substantial proportion of representational work is associated with St Patrick’s Day events, which are crucial in maintaining contacts and influence with business and political leaders. Representation expenditure (RPN) is incurred within clearly defined Departmental guidelines, which are subject to regular review, and, in general, officers above the grade of HEO / Third Secretary are refunded on the basis of receipts for costs incurred. RPN spending, like all Departmental spending, is subject to rigorous internal controls as well as external audit. RPN resources are shared between Heads of Mission and other diplomatic staff - a total of approximately 253 officers across the mission network in 2012 - with varying amounts allocated to individual officers according to the business priorities of the mission. Expenditure on representational work varies from location to location in line with the staffing complement at each mission, as well as the local cost of living.

The RPN budget has been steadily cut in recent years in line with overall cost-cutting measures and is now well below 2003/2004 levels (€2,442,000 in 2004 compared with €1,706,577 in 2012).

The breakdown per mission in 2012 was as follows:

In a separate scheme, the Department also provides financial assistance to officers going on posting abroad towards the cost of representational furniture and equipment. The scheme covers a small range of items which are necessary to provide a suitable home environment for the purposes of official entertainment, with particular regard to the representational areas of an officer’s residence. The amount provided ranges from €2,000-€4,000 depending on the officer’s grade. It may be paid only in respect of an officer’s first posting. The items purchased may be retained by the officer for use during future postings. A total of €64,268 was refunded to officers in 2012.