Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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330. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the amount spent to pay for the education of children of staff serving overseas for 2022; the estimate for 2023; the average amount per staff member overseas in the scheme; the average amount per child in the scheme; the maximum and the minimum amount that has been paid in any particular case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11439/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The network of Embassies, consular missions and representative offices overseas are staffed by Irish civil servants from this Department and other Government Departments. These officers are posted for specific durations and may be accompanied by their family members.

My Department operates a School Fees Assistance Scheme to enable an officer's accompanying children to continue to receive education abroad. Underlying the operation of this Scheme is the principle that no child of officers serving abroad should be disadvantaged in their education by virtue of their parents’ service abroad on behalf of the State.

The policy of the Department is to enrol children in non-fee paying schools where possible. However, it is often the case that families do not qualify for access to the non-fee paying school system in countries as they are not deemed to be residents. Also, in light of the temporary nature of foreign service assignments and local language issues, it is often difficult for officers to enrol their children in non-fee paying schools.

The school fee supports that are offered by the Department are designed to provide continuity of education, as well as to prevent difficulties arising due to differences in language, educational systems, and curricula as families relocate in a new country. In addition, the Scheme recognises the need to provide special needs education when necessary.

Under the School Fees Assistance Scheme, expenditure incurred by this and other Government Departments is recorded by academic year. In the 2021/2022 academic year, total expenditure under this Scheme was €2,955,589. In the 2022/2023 academic year, total expenditure is expected to amount to €3,224,090. Information is not yet available on the 2023/2024 academic year.

The other information sought by the Deputy is presented in tabular form below: