John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

465. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the monthly rent allowance paid to public servants and officials of his Department who are serving the State in the United Kingdom and in mainland Europe, by location; by grade; by family size. [39425/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Rent ceilings currently paid to officers serving the State at a number of locations in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe are set out below.

The relative size of the properties rented varies according to family size. While most officers travel accompanied by their families, in some cases officers travel unaccompanied by their spouse/partners and children, or are accompanied by some family members for periods of their posting.

Under Data Protection Regulations, our advice is that it is not permitted to release details of living arrangements such as apartment size which would allow the private family circumstances of officers and their families to be ascertained.

There are significant variations in local market circumstances from year to year, as well as a requirement to make an assessment of the individual needs of officers in relation to location, security, and suitability for representational purposes where required. In making these assessments, with a particular focus on cost control, we use data sourced from our independent consultants, Employment Conditions Abroad (ECA).