Foreign Affairs Estimates for 2004 Published

Increase in Foreign Affairs Vote to cover EU Presidency Requirements

The Department of Foreign Affairs is to receive a once-off allocation of €25 million to cover the costs of managing Ireland's EU Presidency in the first six months of 2004. (A similar allocation of €12 million was made for 2003 to fund intense Presidency preparations). As Presidency, Ireland will preside over the historic enlargement of the EU, when ten new member states will accede to the EU on 1 May, 2004.

This increase is in addition to the monies required for the day-to-day administration of the Department (salaries, accommodation etc).

Funding for International Cooperation (Vote 29) reaches its highest ever level

The €399 million for Vote 29 represents the highest ever allocation to the Vote and an increase of €25 million over 2003. Growth has occurred every year since 1997, when the allocation was €117 million, but has especially been more rapid in recent years with the Vote more than doubling since 2000. The increased allocation in money terms this year enables the Government to maintain official development assistance at 0.41% of GNP. In percentage terms, Ireland is now the seventh largest donor in the world and well ahead of the EU average (0.33%).

When contributions from other Government Departments are factored in, total official development assistance (ODA) next year should amount to some €480 million, equivalent to 0.41% of GNP.

Minister of State, Mr. Tom Kitt, T.D., stated: “I am delighted that the budget for ODA will increase by €25 million next year. This increase is particularly welcome at a time when public finances are tight. It shows the continuing commitment by Ireland to meeting the needs of the poorest of the poor in the developing world.

As a percentage of our overall wealth, Ireland is one of the largest donors in the world. More importantly, perhaps, the quality of the Irish programme has been lauded internationally. As we move forward, I will ensure that both the quantity and the quality will be maintained as we work towards reaching the UN target for ODA of 0.7% of GNP. It provides a secure platform for further progress in the future.”

The increase will allow Development Cooperation Ireland to consolidate its activities across all areas of the programme and to intensify efforts in a number of key areas.

Passport and Visa Fees to fund improved services

The Department of Foreign Affairs is currently engaged in a €27 million project to provide a more secure passport and to provide an improved service to the public. This project includes the development of a new high-tech passport production facility in Balbriggan. This building work is due to be completed by the end of this year and the facility is expected to be operational by autumn 2004.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen T.D., said “To help defray the cost of the facility, I have decided to increase the fees for passports and visas”.

The Estimates are, therefore, providing for increased Passport and visa fees, with effect from 1 March 2004. The fee for a standard passport fee will increase from €57 to €75 (full details of fee changes are attached). “In line with our general policy of helping the elderly, I have decided to reduce the cost of 10 year passports for senior citizens from €57 to €25”, Minister Cowen said.

The new fees are in line with fees charged by other Western countries for a 10 year passport (e.g. UK €67, Austria €69, Denmark €80, Australia €78, U.S. €87).

Passport Fees have not increased since 1992.

The revenue generated by these increases will be used directly to provide improved services to the public. It is estimated that the passport fee increase will result in returns of c.€9.3 million, all of which will be used to fund the current passport project.

The new fees also reflect the rise in the cost of living since the last passport fee increase.

The increased visa fees, again in line with fees charged internationally, will allow the Government to provide the computerisation etc. required in this area.

Minister Cowen said:

“The changes we are making to the passport system will enable us to meet the highest international standards for travel documents and the highest standard of service here at home. In particular, we will be able to comply fully with U.S. requirements for machine readable passports which are being introduced in October 2004. The passports will also be capable of incorporating biometric information. The new Irish passport will be one of the most advanced travel documents in the world”.

Minister Cowen announces 33% increase in funding for emigrants

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen T.D., today said

“I am happy to announce that despite the pressure on the public finances at the current time, I have been able to secure an extra €1 million for emigrant services, bringing the total for 2004 to €4.063 million. The additional provision next year represents an increase of a third in the funding provided by my Department for these services and is a further step in the implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force on Policy regarding Emigrants.

It confirms the Government's commitment to address the needs of the Irish Abroad, and particularly those who are marginalized or at greatest risk of exclusion. I intend that the additional funds will be concentrated on improving services for the more vulnerable among our Emigrants who require special assistance and support.

In line with the Task Force Report, I also want to ensure that the voluntary and statutory agencies involved in providing services to emigrants work more closely together to improve the overall impact and effectiveness of their work. Some of the extra funds will go towards building capacity in those organisations catering for the needs of emigrants”.

+++ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Funding for Emigrants

The Díon Committee was established in 1984 to advise the Government on the allocation of grants to voluntary agencies providing services to Irish emigrants in the UK. Responsibility for the Díon Fund transferred from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to the Department of Foreign Affairs in February 2003. The provision for the Díon fund this year is i2.573 million.

The Task Force on Policy regarding Emigrants was established in December 2001 on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to address the special needs of those Irish emigrants who are particularly marginalized or at greatest risk of exclusion. In this context, the purpose of the Task Force was to develop a coherent long-term approach to our emigrants and their needs.

The Task Force reported to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in August 2002 recommending the adoption of a strategic, long term approach to meeting the needs of the Irish Abroad and the provision of substantially increased financial assistance for services to Irish emigrants including before they leave, while they are abroad and after they return. The Task Force also called for greater cooperation and communication between statutory and voluntary agencies involved in providing services to emigrants to increase the overall impact of their work.

Passport and Visa fee increases

The new Passport Fees will be as follows (current fees are shown in brackets):

Standard 10 year Passport (Adult) €75 (€57)

Standard 10 year Passport (Senior Citizen) €25 (€57)

Standard 3 year Passport (Infant 0 – 3 years) €15 (€12)

Standard 5 year Passport (Young Person 3 – 18 years) €25 (€12)

Large Passport (66 pages) €100 (€69)

Collective Passport €75 (€57)

Urgent Fee (applications processed during office hours for same or next day delivery) €50 - Adult

€25 - Child

(New)

Emergency Fee (applications processed outside office hours, including weekends, for on-the-spot delivery)

€100 – Adult (€63)

€ 50 - Child

The new visa fees are as follows:

Single Journey Visa €60 (€25)

Multiple Entry Visa €100 (€50)

Transit Visa €25 (€10)

The passport fee increase is less than the rise of approximately 40% in the cost of living since passport fees were last increased in 1992. The new fees for children represent an increase of 25% in the cost per year (the existing fee of €12 for a 3 year passport will rise to €15 and €25 for a 3 and 5 year passport respectively).

The practice of issuing a replacement passport for the unexpired validity of a current passport (e.g. due to change of name) at a reduced fee is to be discontinued. Instead, such applicants will be issued with a new 10 year passport for the appropriate full fee.

The new fees are in line with fees charged by other Western countries for a 10 year passport (e.g. UK €67, Austria €69, Denmark €80, Australia €78, U.S. €87).

In parallel with the new passport fees, a new passport fee structure will also be introduced. Some of the changes are designed to provide greater security for children by limiting the validity of passports for children under 3 years old to 3 years and for youths from 3 - 18 years to 5 years. This will reduce the scope for identity fraud and child kidnapping by ensuring a close likeness between a child and their passport photograph. The new fee structure will also facilitate senior citizens, by providing them with a 10 year passport for the same price as a youth's 5 year passport

The new visa fees are in line with those charged by the UK (€57 for a Single Journey Visa and €95 for a Multiple Entry Visa) and by the U.S. (over €100).

Details of the new fees and, in the case of passports, fee structure, will be published in the national media in advance of their introduction on 1 March 2004.

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