Written answers
Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Passport Services
Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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11. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade what specific efforts have been made to recruit customer service agents in the Passport Office who are fluent in languages other than English; if he will consider including a focus on a stronger diversity of language fluency among staff in future recruitment efforts, particularly in relation to languages widely spoken by immigrant communities in Ireland; if he is satisfied that there are sufficient Irish speakers in the same section for applicants who wish to apply as Gaeilge; and if a focus on same will be considered for future recruitment efforts. [39651/23]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department ensures that there are adequate resources assigned to the Passport Service in order to service queries from customers in both Irish and English. There are currently a number of officers working in the Customer Service Hub and on the public counter of the Passport Service who are assigned to engage with customers who wish to communicate in Irish. These officers are recruited through competitions administered by the Public Appointments Service or by my Department directly.
I am satisfied that the Customer Service Hub is adequately resourced with Irish language speakers at present. My Department keeps staffing levels and its commitment to deliver effective service in Irish under continual review.
In its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (2021 to 2023), the Public Appointments Service highlights the central role it plays in recruiting diverse talent to take up public service employment opportunities. In addition, one of the goals of my Department’s Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (2022-2025) is to increase the diversity of candidates applying for roles in the Department, including ethnic diversity.
In addition to citizen service provision in both official languages, developing and maintaining Irish and foreign language proficiency is an essential part of my Department's work. Furthermore, the Department encourages and supports officers to undertake language classes, with a view to enhancing foreign language proficiency across all grades and units.
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