Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

206. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to introduce a scheme that would financially support, with regard to the repatriation costs, the families of Irish citizens who have died abroad. [43459/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department of Foreign Affairs responds to around 3,000 consular emergency cases each year, and the highest priority is always given to those involving the deaths of Irish citizens overseas. In 2016 my Department assisted in 250 such cases. Sadly, this number looks likely to increase in 2017 and could be around 300.

My Department and its staff are well trained and experienced in the provision of such consular assistance, and the quality of the work carried out by officials in this area is highly regarded. I am very proud of the achievement of my Department’s Consular Directorate in being awarded the 2016 Public Service Excellence and Innovation Award in the Customer Service Excellence category.

In cases involving the death of an Irish citizen abroad, my Department, and our Embassies and Consulates, provide assistance to families in a range of areas which can include liaising with local authorities on issues such as formal identification of the deceased and post-mortem examinations; assisting families to obtain death certificates and navigating local systems and processes; liaising with local police where the death is sudden or suspicious and an investigation is required; providing lists of reputable local English-speaking undertakers; assisting with the completion and filing of documentation required for the repatriation of remains; assisting families in contacts with insurance agents; and arranging for the storage and repatriation of personal effects of deceased persons.

My Department does not provide financial assistance in such cases and has no budget provision for such assistance. I am not aware of any country where the Government operates a scheme providing direct financial assistance to families who suffer a bereavement overseas, and there are no plans for the introduction of any such scheme here.

In many cases where a death occur abroad and the family wish to bring the remains home to Ireland, costs associated with repatriation of remains are covered by insurance policies.

The importance of taking out comprehensive travel insurance is a message which my Department seeks to convey to Irish citizens at every opportunity, and we also ask all public representatives to share that message with their constituents where possible.

In exceptional circumstances, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection can make an exceptional needs payment to a family to assist with funeral costs in Ireland, but this does not cover repatriation of remains from overseas.

The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund (KBRTF), a private organisation which raises funds from the public, provides assistance with repatriation of remains, and my Department and the Trust often work together on specific cases as appropriate.