Wednesday, 20 Sep 2023

Written Answers Nos. 22-37

Passport Services

Questions (22)

Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

22. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on a first-time passport application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39802/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

The entitlement of a person to citizenship is governed by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. This provides that where a person was born abroad to an Irish citizen parent, who was also born abroad, in order to be entitled to Irish citizenship through that parent, the details of the person’s birth must be entered into the Foreign Births Register (FBR).

FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months from receipt of supporting documents. Applications which require further supporting documents will take longer to process.

Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Such documents take considerable time to validate.

With regard to the specific Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) application about which the Deputy has enquired, the application was received 18 August 2023. In line with the current turnaround time of 9 months, this application will fall due for processing in May 2024.

Foreign Birth Registration

Questions (23)

Michael Ring

Question:

23. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to outline the position regarding a foreign birth registration application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40107/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months from receipt of required supporting documents. Applications which require further supporting documents will take longer to process.

Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Such documents take considerable time to validate.

With regard to the specific Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) application about which the Deputy has enquired, the application was received 04 May 2023. In line with current turnaround time of 9 months, this application will fall due for processing February 2024. When the application is reached for processing, the Passport Service will contact the applicant to advise whether any further required documents need to be submitted in order to progress the application.

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Questions (24)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

24. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for Foreign Affairs if he has spoken with the Turkish Ambassador to Ireland to date in 2023. [40121/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

While I have not had an opportunity to officially meet with Ambassador Olcay to date in 2023, I can confirm that Ireland maintains positive bilateral relations with Türkiye across multiple layers of engagement.

In February, I spoke by telephone with then-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Mevlüt Çavusoglu, following the devastating earthquakes in south-eastern Türkiye, in which so many tragically lost their lives. I expressed my heartfelt condolences to the people of Türkiye, and provided Minister Çavusoglu with an update on the €2 million of humanitarian support that Ireland had immediately mobilised in response to the disaster. Ireland’s total humanitarian contribution to the earthquake response in Türkiye and Syria was €10 million.

Both President Higgins and Minister of State Fleming visited the Turkish Embassy in Dublin, to sign the book of condolences, and met with Ambassador Olcay to share the sympathies of the Irish people.

In January, Minister of State Burke met with a visiting delegation from the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Türkiye. They had a wide ranging discussion covering Ireland-Türkiye bilateral relations, Presidential and parliamentary elections, Türkiye’s EU perspective and EU-Türkiye relations, human rights and the rule of law in Türkiye.

The Department of Foreign Affairs maintains regular contact with the Turkish Embassy in Dublin. Most recently, Ambassador Olcay met with senior officials from my Department on 13 July 2023, to discuss topical developments in Ireland-Türkiye bilateral relations and EU-Türkiye relations.

I look forward to having an introductory meeting with Türkiye’s newly appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, in the near future. As I wrote in my letter of congratulations to Minister Fidan, I look forward to working with him to address some of the major global challenges that we collectively face.

As an EU candidate country, near neighbour, and influential regional power, it is important that we maintain positive relations with Türkiye, both bilaterally and as an EU Member State.

Diplomatic Representation

Questions (25)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

25. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if there are plans to appoint a cultural officer to the Embassy in Canberra, Australia. [40122/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Cultural diplomacy is an integral part of the work of Ireland's Embassy in Canberra and our Consulate General in Sydney. Both missions work to promote cultural ties and the Irish arts, as well as the strengthening of political and economic relationships and support to the Irish community.

The appointment of full-time specialist Cultural Officers in priority locations worldwide has been identified in the Government’s Global Ireland 2025 strategy as a key action to widen and deepen our global cultural presence and engagement. Seven positions in Berlin, London, New York, Los Angeles, Sao Paulo, Paris and Beijing have been filled to date, in a close partnership between my Department and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Consideration is being given to further such appointments in priority locations and regions, as part of the Global Ireland programme, subject to resources, local conditions and requirements.

Foreign Birth Registration

Questions (26)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

26. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for a foreign birth registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay in the processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40157/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Demand for Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen in 2022.

Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Such documents take considerable time to validate.

FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months from receipt of all required supporting documents. Applications that require further supporting documents will take longer to process.

With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, an application was made online October 2020. The application form and supporting documents were submitted by the applicant in November 2022. Further supporting documents for the application were requested from the applicant August 2023. The application cannot proceed until the required supporting documents are submitted.

Foreign Birth Registration

Questions (27)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

27. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for a foreign birth registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay in the processing of said application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40158/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Foreign Birth Registration (FBR), by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Such documents take considerable time to validate.

FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months from receipt of all required supporting documents. Applications that require further supporting documents will take longer to process.

With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, this is a complex application and is currently been reviewed. A member of the FBR will contact the applicant shortly.

Passport Services

Questions (28)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

28. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will be issued for a child (details supplied). [40204/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application and requested further supporting documents. The application cannot proceed until the required supporting documents have been received.

Departmental Strategies

Questions (29)

Carol Nolan

Question:

29. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide details on the measures his Department has taken to implement specific action points (details supplied) of the action plan to support the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021. [40232/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

The National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 is an all of Government strategy and the Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to its implementation. The Department works on an ongoing basis to deliver many of the actions, including those relating to the integration of LGBTI+ rights across our foreign policy. The Department, including through the Embassy and Consulate network, is committed to engaging with LGBTI+ diaspora communities, delivering consular services to LGBTI+ persons, and supporting those promoting and defending LGBTI+ rights internationally.

The Department is also committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all colleagues feel respected, valued and included. In that context, a Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) Action Plan was launched in my Department during mid-2022 to further develop systems, policies and practices to embed diversity and inclusion. Additionally, the DFA Statement of Strategy 2023-2025, commits the Department to further embed a culture of dignity and respect in the workplace. Embedding principles of respect and inclusion also applies to how services are delivered to members of the public, and our Customer Service Charter makes a firm commitment to treat everyone fairly and impartially.

The Department is committed to equality of opportunity for all in terms of its recruitment and employment practices. All competitions are conducted in line with the CPSA Code of Practice for Appointment to Positions in the Civil and Public Service, and training is provided, including unconscious bias awareness training, to officers who sit on competition boards, to ensure applicants are assessed equitably and without discrimination in our processes.

Over the past year, officials have been engaging with the Irish Centre for Diversity’s (ICD) 'Investors in Diversity' programme to help guide the Department’s next steps on GEDI. This engagement resulted in the Department becoming the first in the Civil Service to be awarded the ICD’s Bronze Accreditation. A re-assessment, conducted in July this year, led to our categorisation as ‘an organisation that shows a commitment to D&I that is indicative of a high level of maturity’.

In terms of the specific actions from the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy raised, the Department has recently launched a number of policies to support gender equality, including a Guide to Supporting Transgender Colleagues in March of this year. Further short updates on measures taken to implement the specific actions are set out below.

Action Number	Outcome	Action	Progress made
1.2	LGBTI+ People are made positively visible across all sectors of society	Identify key large-scale events each year to promote LGBTI+ visibility	Embassies and Consulates engage with LGBTI+ members of the diaspora in outreach to LGBTI+ organisations and societies across the globe, by participating in Pride Parades and similar events, and by promoting LGBTI+ members of the diaspora's participation in events.
1.4	LGBTI+ People are made positively visible across all sectors of society	Coordinate a series of events and communications to support positive messaging around Pride and festivals nationwide and more broadly to promote LGBTI+ visibility, awareness and expertise	DFA's LGBTI+ Working Group and LGBTI+ Network coordinate events regularly to promote LGBTI+ visibility, awareness and expertise.
2.2	Irish workplaces are inclusive of LGBTI+ people and support them in bringing their authentic selves’ to work	Ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is a core feature of organisational and HR strategy and subject to ongoing review.	DFA’s Gender, Equality, Diversity & InclusionAction Plan 2022—2025 has been developed in consultation with key stakeholders across the Department and is subject to ongoing review.
2.4	Irish workplaces are inclusive of LGBTI+ people and support them in bringing their authentic selves’ to work	Develop a Civil and Public Service wide LGBTI+ Employee and Ally Network	LGBTI+ network in place in DFA.
3.2	Public spaces are safe and welcoming of LGBTI+ people	Coordinate the roll out of a public recognition marker denoting LGBTI+ friendly service provision, particularly in rural and other hard to reach communities	DFA promotes the use of welcome stickers denoting LGBT-friendly service provision.
5.1	Public policy is inclusive of LGBTI+ perspectives and avoids heteronormative assumptions	Utilise the Equality and Human Rights Public Sector Duty to take account of LGBTI+ considerations in the development or review of public sector policy, to be informed by targeted consultation where necessary.	As a public sector organisation, DFA complies with its obligations under all aspects of GEDI.
12.2	Transgender people are supported and administrative processes are streamlined while maintaining a person’s privacy	Ensure that each relevant Department/Government body examines how, once a Gender Recognition Certificate is obtained, administrative processes can be streamlined, improving interconnection between Departments, and reducing costs for replacement of official documents, while maintaining a person’s privacy.	DFA's website provides information on the mechanisms to complete the administrative process, while protecting the confidentiality of the citizen concerned.
24.2	The practice of conversion therapy in Ireland is investigated and followed up with appropriate counter measures.	Informed by the findings of the above research, develop an appropriate package of measures for implementation in response.	DCEDIY is leading on draft legislation and my Department will follow up in terms of actions to support the Strategy.

Departmental Reports

Questions (30)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

30. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide a list of all studies, research and reports commissioned by his Department that were outsourced, in each year since the formation of this Government, in tabular form; the names of the companies to which each study, research and report was outsourced; the total cost for each; the number of reports finalised and presented to him that have yet to be released by his Department; the dates on which any such reports yet to be released were first provided to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40371/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Department of Foreign Affairs commissions external expertise where highly specialised skills are not available internally and in particular where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. During the course of their engagement, these consultants and experts may prepare reports and other documentation for the Department.

In-depth analysis of issues by external experts has informed, and continues to inform, the Department’s policies, allowing for a more targeted use of resources and greater accountability in the allocation of budgets.

These services are procured by open competitive tendering processes in accordance with EU and national rules and comply with the overall value for money objectives.

The following reports were finalised and received by my Department from 27 June 2020 to date in 2023:

Year	Name of Company	Title of Study/ Research/ Report	Finalised and presented to the Department that have yet to be released	Total Cost
2020	Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd	Process review of Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) systems.	N/A - for internal use	€16,335
2020	Southern Cross Consulting	IDEAS Programme Review (Vietnam)	N/A - for internal use	€11,150
2020	IOD Parc	Formative Evaluation of the Programme Grant II (2017-2021) & Humanitarian Programme Plan (2019-2021)	N/A -Published August 2021	€136,925
2020	Fergal Ryan	Programme Grant monitoring Sierra Leone	N/A - for internal use	€11,347
2020	Fergal Ryan	Programme Grant monitoring Tanzania	N/A - for internal use	€3,000
2020	Dave Oldroyd	Strategic Review of ESP funded organisation Haringey ICC	N/A - for internal use	€1,974
2020	Fitzpatrick Associates Economic Consultants	Tokyo Ireland House Strategic Assessment (1/3)	N/A - for internal use	€10,861
2020	University of Otago, New Zealand	Irish in Aotearoa: Mapping the Irish Community and People of Irish Heritage in New Zealand	N/A - Published December 2020	€7,206.06
2021	Bankhawk	Provision of Banking Services, including Electronic Banking	N/A - for internal use	€8,364
2021	Dr. Rachel Widdes	Review of Access to Remedy in Ireland	N/A - for internal use	€17,000
2021	Tina Poyzer	Report Identifying the Needs of the Irish Community in the London Borough of Haringey	N/A - for internal use	€5,870
2021	Pham Thai Hung	Mission Strategy (2017-2020) Results Review Report	N/A - for internal use	€3,375
2021	William Langslet	Independent review of Ireland’s support to Mine Action in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam 2017-2020	N/A - for internal use	€7,500
2021	Fitzpatrick Associates Economic Consultants	Tokyo Ireland House Preliminary Business Case (2/3)	N/A - for internal use	€25,761
2021	Pham Thai Hung	Review of the Ethnic Minority Partnership for Resilience and Development (EMPRO)	N/A - for internal use	€1,315
2021	Pham Thai Hung	Programme Approach to Reach the Furthest Behind in Vietnam	N/A - for internal use	€4,760
2021	Arab World for Research and Development	Gender Equality Review of the Palestine Programme	N/A - for internal use	€11,800
2021	European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM)	Adopting a food systems approach – Implications for Ireland’s ODA programming and policy influencing	N/A - Published January 2021	Part of a service delivery component of a larger contract with ECDPM
2021	ECDPM	3 papers on EU’s Gender Action Plan	N/A -Published October 2021	Part of a service delivery component of a larger contract with ECDPM
2021	Anne Nolan, Consultant	Technical review, Ireland’s support to O3 programme	N/A - for internal use	€6,125
2021	Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd	Programme Grant Monitoring in Malawi, Nepal, Tanzania & Ethiopia	N/A - for internal use	€44,128
2021	Claire Dijoux	Programme Grant Monitoring in Guinea and Malawi	N/A - for internal use	€23,991
2021	Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd	Review of the Civil Society Fund	N/A - for internal use	€28,413
2021	Charles Derek Poate	External Quality Assurance – Draft Malawi Mission Strategy, 2021-2026	N/A - for internal use	€1,696
2021	Lynne Elliot	External Quality Assurance-Draft Malawi Mission Strategy, 2021-2026	N/A - for internal use	€1,380
2021	Mary Ann Brocklesby	Review of Draft Mission Strategy 2020-2025	N/A - for internal use	€1,950
2021	Mary Ann Brocklesby	EQA Gender Support to Mission Addis	N/A - for internal use	€20,100
2021	Charles Derek Poate	External Quality Assurance – Draft Mission Strategy 2020-2024, Embassy of Ireland, Ethiopia	N/A - for internal use	€1,696
2021	Claire Dijoux	Programme Grant Monitoring in Guinea and Malawi	N/A - for internal use	€23,991
2022	Conan McKenna	Review of Domestic Implementation of Restrictive Measures (sanctions)	N/A - for internal use	€2,914.45 Note this was a shared cost between DFA. D/ETE and D/FIN
2022	Richard Collins	Consultancy services to support an assessment of the Antarctic Treaty System	N/A - for internal use	€11,250
2022	Clare Duignan	Strategic Review of ESP funded Crosscare Migrant Project	N/A - for internal use	€9,600
2022	Arab World for Research and Development	Gender Equality Review of the Palestine Programme	N/A - for internal use	€4,300
2022	Fitzpatrick Associates Economic Consultants	Tokyo Ireland House Final Business Case (3/3)	N/A - for internal use	€27,675
2022	Fitzpatrick Associates Economic Consultants	Consultancy – Preliminary Business case London and Washington (1/2)	N/A - for internal use	€54,520
2022	Martin Rose	Global Citizenship Education Strategic Partner Evaluation	N/A - for internal use	€16,538
2022	Vanessa Sheridan & Deirdre Farrell	Global Citizenship Education Strategic Partner Evaluation	N/A - for internal use	€18,000
2022	Anne Nolan, Consultant	Technical review, Ireland’s support health sector, Mozambique	N/A - for internal use	€15,375
2022	Graham Shaw Consulting	Technical support exercises, RCSI & Frontline AIDS	N/A - for internal use	€20,045
2022	Public Good	Disability Mapping	N/A - for internal use	€21,789.89
2022	Institute for Social and Environment Transitions (ISET International)	Review of Ireland's Humanitarian demining programme	N/A - for internal use	€21,709
2022	Policy and Market Options Limited	Evaluation of Our Shared Interest: Ireland Kenya Agri-Food Strategy (IKAFS) 2017-2021	N/A - for internal use	€34,140
2022	IOD Parc	Management Review of the International Development Assistance Programme	N/A - for internal use	€110, 863.13
2022	Lynne Elliot	External Quality Assurance Review of the Internal appraisal of ICSP	N/A - for internal use	€3,750
2022	Bernard McLoughlin	External Quality Assurance Review of the internal appraisal of ICSP	N/A - for internal use	€4,920
2022	Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd	Review of the Civil Society Fund	N/A - for internal use	€1,722
2022	Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd	Misean Cara Systems Review	N/A - for internal use	€23,228
2022	Aisling Swaine	Strategic Approach to WPS at African Union	N/A - for internal use	No Cost incurred
2022	IOD PARC	Review of The Embassy of Ireland, Uganda’s Programme in Karamoja 2016-2020	N/A -Published 21 December 2022	€56,716
2022	Charles Derek Poate	External Quality Assurance – Draft Pretoria Mission Strategy, 2022-2026	N/A - for internal use	€1,746
2022	MAB Associates	External Quality Assurance – Draft Tanzania Mission Strategy 2022 -2026	N/A - for internal use	€3,750
2022	Bankhawk	Discussion Document (Banking/ Card Payment Services)	N/A - for internal use	€24,108
2022	Irish Centre for Diversity	Department of Foreign Affairs – Investors in Diversity (Silver) Report	N/A - for internal use	€4,495
2023	Fitzpatrick Associates Economic Consultants	Consultancy – Strategic Assessment Report - London and Washington (2/2)	N/A - for internal use	€47,560
2023	Irish Centre for Diversity	Investor in Diversity Bronze re-assessment	N/A - for internal use	€2,453.85
2023	Adrienne Boyle	Global Citizenship Education annual grant partner review	N/A - for internal use	€5,855.78
2023	Anne Nolan, Consultant	Options paper, support for health sector, Mozambique	N/A - for internal use	€15,748
2023	Anne Nolan, Consultant	Technical review, health sector strategy, Zimbabwe	N/A - for internal use	€3,075
2023	Graham Shaw Consulting	Technical support exercises, RCSI and HSE	N/A - for internal use	€18,885
2023	Graham Shaw Consulting	Scoping Report, Kenya Nursing	N/A - for internal use	€11,875
2023	ODI	Strategic Partnership producing a series of thematic or technical reports for Irish Aid	N/A - for internal use	N/A produced as part of on-going strategic partnership with ODI
2022/ 2023	DemocraShe	Mid-Term Review of Ireland’s 3rd National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security	N/A - for internal use	€10,000Excl VAT
2023	Mary Ann Brocklesby	External Quality Assurance of Uganda Mission Strategy 2023-2027	N/A - for internal use	€1,625
2023	Lynne Elliot	External Quality Assurance – Draft Embassy of Ireland, Mission Strategy Zambia 2022-2027	N/A - for internal use	€1,500

Overseas Development Aid

Questions (31)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

31. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what measures his Department is undertaking to ensure that budgetary proposals this year relating to overseas development assistance and climate finance are not double-counted with regard to meeting international commitments relating to both; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40561/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs

International climate action is a key priority for the Government. We are committed to supporting actions and measures that address climate change and we recognise that Official Development Assistance (ODA) is an important source of funding for this work. Climate-related ODA is directed to countries and communities that are the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change, such as Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

The Government has made significant progress in supporting climate action in developing countries. This has been achieved through integrating climate action, particularly climate resilience and adaptation, into development programming. It has also involved the provision of increased climate-specific funding for activities in developing countries, as part of an overall increase in Ireland’s ODA budget.

Between 2016 and 2021, Ireland’s overall international climate finance has increased by 40%. The Government's International Climate Finance Roadmap (2022) sets out how we will meet the commitment of providing €225 million per year in climate finance to developing countries by 2025. This represents a more than doubling of our climate finance on 2020 levels. The Roadmap states clearly that Ireland’s climate finance targets should be achieved in a complementary fashion with the achievement of Ireland’s other international development cooperation priorities.

In order to ensure full transparency in reporting ODA, Ireland reports both its climate finance and ODA spend to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, which assesses and verifies our reports. This reporting procedure is in line with international standards and procedures.

Overseas Development Aid

Questions (32)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

32. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if any portion of Ireland's oversees development assistance budget has been used for the purposes of enhancing European Union border security or funding migration control facilities in third countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40562/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs

Ireland's international development programme is focused on the eradication of poverty and hunger and improving the lives of vulnerable communities in developing countries.

We seek to reflect these objectives across all of our engagement on development cooperation whether in bilateral or multilateral frameworks.

Naturally these fundamental values also underline our engagement on EU development cooperation activity.

Regarding our share of spending from the EU Budget which can be counted as part of what Ireland provides in Official Development Assistance (ODA), this is, by definition, used to fund activities which meet ODA criteria, the fundamental principle of which is that the primary purpose must be the economic development and welfare of developing countries. Border security and migration control facilities do not meet these criteria.

In terms of specific examples which illustrate our preferred approach, I would cite the European Union Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF). Ireland provided bilateral contributions to EUTF totalling €15.755 between 2017 and 2020. While support provided through the EUTF addressed improved migration management, it did not include any funding for the construction or operation of detention centres or similar facilities.

Ireland's ODA is regularly peer-assessed by the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC). In its most recent review, conducted in 2020, the OECD DAC underlined that Ireland's development programme continues to be highly regarded and focused on appropriate and core development priorities.

Foreign Birth Registration

Questions (33, 34)

Emer Higgins

Question:

33. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of an application to the foreign birth register (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40595/23]

Emer Higgins

Question:

34. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of an application to the foreign birth register (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40596/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 34 together.

With regard to the specific Foreign Birth Registration applications about which the Deputy has enquired, these applications have been approved. Certificates will issue to the applicants shortly.

Question No. 34 answered with Question No. 33.

Passport Services

Questions (35)

Charles Flanagan

Question:

35. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish passports issued to applicants providing principal place of residence addresses in the United Kingdom, specifically detailed as: Northern Ireland; England; Scotland; and Wales, for each of the past six years. [40653/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

The number of passports issued to residents of Northern Ireland and Great Britain are outlined below in tabular form. A further breakdown of residents of England, Scotland and Wales is not available at this time.

Year	Residents of Northern Ireland	Residents of Great Britain	Total
2022	116,000	97,000	213,000
2021	45,000	63,000	108,000
2020	45,000	57,000	102,000
2019	118,000	120,000	238,000
2018	83,000	86,000	169,000
2017	80,000	80,000	160,000

Human Rights

Questions (36)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

36. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which any assistance is being offered in the case of a person (details supplied); if all possible resources can be made available, with a view to assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40705/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I can assure the Deputy that officials in my Department have been in regular contact with the Irish citizen in this case and are continuing to provide consular assistance and guidance.

I can appreciate that the circumstances of this case are difficult for all concerned. The Embassy of Ireland has engaged with the relevant Ministry of Justice on the matter and has provided advice to the citizen accordingly. The citizen and their mediator have recently engaged in a formal mediation process in the relevant State to discuss the case and the legal processes available. I welcome this development.

Departmental and Embassy officials have advised the citizen, since the case began, to engage with a local lawyer to best advise on the laws as they pertain to the jurisdiction in question. The Embassy of Ireland has also liaised with other EU Embassies, whose citizens have been in similar circumstances, in the context of the consular advice being given to the citizen.

The Department of Foreign Affairs cannot intervene in legal or custodial matters but my officials will continue to provide support, assistance and guidance to the citizen where possible and appropriate.

National Broadband Plan

Questions (37)

Holly Cairns

Question:

37. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the National Broadband Plan rollout for Bantry, County Cork; the measures he is taking to increase the speed of the rollout of broadband in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39492/23]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Digital Connectivity Strategy for Ireland has set a target that all premises in the State will have access to gigabit broadband by 2028. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and through the State investment in National Broadband Ireland (NBI).

Commercial operators’ fibre rollouts are progressing at pace. Open eir have already passed over 1 million homes nationally and almost 129,000 homes and businesses in Co. Cork with gigabit services, with a further c.86,500 planned over the next 2 – 3 years, bringing their total fibre-based investment in the county to over €89m. Other commercial operators are also continuing to increase their network footprint right across the State, with SIRO recently enabling 520,000 premises for full fibre, and Virgin Media announcing plans to bring 2Gbps services to 345,000 premises through upgrade and expansion of their own network.

NBI will roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the intervention area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in over 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools.

I am advised by NBI that, as of 8th September 2023, 177,852 premises are passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. 52,947 premises are already connected to the NBP high-speed broadband network. Furthermore, as of 31st August 22,013 premises in County Cork are passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection with 6,545 premises now connected.

NBI have advised that surveying for the Bantry region is due to begin in November 2023. Surveys are needed to establish the condition of existing poles and ducts, to ascertain whether repairs are needed. NBI’s contractors walk the fibre route to inspect infrastructure and gather detailed information on local conditions and this work is on-going. Following survey work, NBI will carry out detailed designs and work on upgrading poles, ducts and rolling out the fibre cable will be carried out over the next twelve months.

Recent ComReg data shows that Quarter 2, 2023 saw a 7.4% increase in fibre broadband subscriptions compared to the first 3 months of the year, and a 33.7% increase when compared to Quarter 2 of 2022. This demonstrates that take-up of fibre connectivity for homes and businesses is increasing massively as it’s deployed to areas where it had previously been unavailable.

Further details are available on specific areas within County Cork through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie . Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence. NBI has a dedicated email address, [e-mail], which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.

Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 8th September some 950 sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. In County Cork 23 BCP’s have been installed to date. The site at Mealagh Valley Community Centre, which is now connected, is located approximately 10km from Bantry. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/ .

In County Cork 45 schools have been installed by NBI to date for educational access. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area. Further details of schools in scope are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/ .