Written Answers Nos. 74-95
74. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the details of any contracts in place between his Department and agencies under his remit with a company (details supplied) known to have provided material support to the IDF in Gaza, which the Government considers to be guilty of genocide, since 2023. [64862/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraNeither the Department of the Taoiseach nor the National Economic and Social Development Office - the only body under the aegis of the Department - had a contract in place with the company in question in the period specified.
75. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Taoiseach in cases in which a building under his control is not wheelchair accessible, the reason for this; his plans to remedy this; and the timeline for measures to be completed. [65355/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra76. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Taoiseach the wheelchair accessibility of all buildings under his control. [65325/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 76 together.
The Department of the Taoiseach is located in Government Buildings, Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2, D02R583. The building, which is owned and managed by the Office of Public Works, is fully accessible for wheelchair users.
77. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her attention has been drawn to the delays in processing a first-time passport application (details supplied); the actions she will take to ensure that it is processed in a timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64440/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport to the applicant.
78. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a renewal child passport application (details supplied) will be finalised. [64460/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport to the applicant.
79. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the printing of passport cards; the average current processing time for passport card applications; the number of passport cards that have been printed in each month of 2026 to date; and if she will provide advice on an application for a passport card for an individual (details supplied). [64741/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe passport card was launched in October 2015 and offers Irish citizens the convenience of travel, with a credit card sized travel document, to all EU Member States, the members of the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The Passport Card is available to all Irish Citizens who hold a valid Irish Passport Book.
The fees charged for passport cards are dependent on the type of application made and are as follows:
|
Application type |
Fee |
|
Adult individual passport card |
€35 |
|
Adult passport book plus card bundle |
€100 |
|
Standard 5-year passport plus Passport Card bundle for those under 18 years |
€45 |
The advertised turnaround time for passport card only applications is 10 working days and the average processing time for passport card applications in August 2026 was 4 working days.
Please see below table showing the number of passport cards issued in each month of 2026.
|
Month |
Number of passport cards issued |
|
Jan-26 |
12,944 |
|
Feb-26 |
16,162 |
|
Mar-26 |
13,636 |
|
Apr-26 |
19,527 |
|
May-26 |
7,143 |
|
Jun-26 |
54* |
|
Jul-26 |
23,771 |
|
Aug-26 |
11,812 |
|
Total |
105,049 |
*To facilitate essential upgrades to Passport Service production equipment ahead of the launch of the new passport book and card at the end of June, passport card production was paused for a number of weeks in early summer. During this short period, applicants could continue to apply for a passport card. Notice of the temporary extension in turnaround times was published on the Department's website.
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport card to the applicant.
80. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of any contracts in place between her Department and agencies under her remit with a company (details supplied) known to have provided material support to the IDF in Gaza, which the Government considers to be guilty of genocide, since 2023. [64836/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not currently have any contracts in place with Oracle Corporation. Up to July 2026, the Department availed of a limited support and maintenance service for legacy Oracle technology associated with the previous passport processing system.
With the rollout of Turas, the Department's new passport processing system, these legacy services were discontinued and are no longer in use.
The Department does not have any agencies under its remit.
81. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passports that have been issued from the years 2020-2026 which included a gender marker that was not M (male) or F (female). [64971/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Passport Service has issued 0 passports including a gender marker that was not M (male) or F (female) in the period outlined by the Deputy.
82. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the basis for any delay in the opening of thematic clusters related to accession of Moldova into the EU. [65142/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra83. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the opening of thematic clusters related to accession of Moldova into the EU. [65141/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra84. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding any engagement she has had with her EU counterparts in relation to the opening of thematic clusters related to accession of Moldova into the EU. [65143/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 83 and 84 together.
Ireland strongly supports EU enlargement, which is a key priority of our EU Presidency.
In July, during the first month of our Presidency, Ireland secured significant progress on the enlargement file, holding the highest number of accession conferences in a single day since 2002. Ireland facilitated the closure of two additional chapters with Montenegro as well as the closure of the first three negotiating chapters with Albania. Ireland's Presidency also facilitated the opening of cluster 6 on external relations with both Ukraine and Moldova.
Moldova applied for EU membership in 2022 and opened accession negotiations in 2024. Together with Ukraine, Moldova opened cluster 1 on fundamentals in June and cluster 6 on external relations in July. Last year, the European Commission's Enlargement Report highlighted that Moldova has made the most one-year progress of all the candidates over the reporting period. This year’s enlargement report is expected to be published by the Commission in the coming period. Ireland commends the efforts that Moldova is making to meet the challenge of aligning their laws with the EU acquis, despite the ongoing hybrid threats and external interference they are facing.
Last year, the European Commission confirmed that both Ukraine and Moldova are technically ready to open all six negotiating clusters. As Presidency, Ireland will continue to engage with other Member States to secure the unanimity required for the opening of all remaining clusters with both Ukraine and Moldova.
Ireland is also providing technical support to candidate countries – including Moldova – through our “Ireland for EU Enlargement” capacity-building programme, which is funded by my Department and delivered by the Institute of Public Administration. I am pleased that officials from Moldova have participated in the first two years of the programme. Ireland will continue to provide our full support for Moldova's EU accession process.
Ireland also opened our Embassy in Chisinau in 2025 as a sign of our bilateral commitment to and support for Moldova.
85. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will report on relations between Egypt and Ireland. [65410/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland enjoys strong bilateral relations with the Arab Republic of Egypt and last year marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Egypt is an important bilateral partner for Ireland and there is a long-established Egyptian Embassy in Dublin, and Irish Embassy in Cairo. President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, visited Ireland in December 2024.
Ireland’s engagement with Egypt, one of the most influential countries in the Middle East, is hugely valuable for both our bilateral and regional relationships. Egypt has been at the forefront of efforts to restore a political pathway towards a sustainable and peaceful resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
My visit in January of this year was an opportunity to reiterate Ireland’s full support for these efforts and to highlight our joint ambition for the realisation of the two-State solution. Egypt generously facilitated my visit to the Rafah Crossing during my visit.
While I was in Egypt, I held constructive talks in Cairo with my Egyptian counterpart and we also engaged en marge of the eleventh meeting of the EU-Egypt Association Council that took place on 15 June. I hope to welcome him back to Ireland in the near future.
Ireland is a party to the Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership between Egypt and the European Union and the Taoiseach met President Sisi in April 2026 at an EU-Arab Consultative Meeting in Cyprus.
Two-way trade between Ireland and Egypt amounted to approximately €1.5bn in 2024 in goods and services (2024, provisional figures).
86. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her attention has been drawn to the delays in processing a first-time passport application (details supplied); the actions she will take to ensure that it is processed in a timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65436/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, supporting documents for this application were received by the Passport Service on the 28/07/2026. The turnaround time following receipt of supporting documents for a first time application is 20 working days. Additional supporting documents were requested by the Passport Service on the 20/08/2026 and received on the 31/08/2026. The turnaround time following receipt of further supporting documents is 15 working days. Therefore this application is within the current turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue by date.
87. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in cases in which a building under her control is not wheelchair accessible, the reason for this; her plans to remedy this; and the timeline for measures to be completed. [65347/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra93. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the wheelchair accessibility of all buildings under her control; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65317/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 93 together.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not own or lease any properties within this jurisdiction. The Office of Public Works is responsible for all accommodation utilised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade within the State.
88. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether her Department is publishing the 'Ireland’s EU Presidency: Ní neart go cur le chéile' book; if so, the number of copies being produced; and the total cost of same. [65455/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s EU Presidency: Ní neart go cur le chéile is a children’s version of Ireland’s EU Presidency Policy Programme. The book was officially launched on 7 September 2026. It has been made available online in both English and Irish, in standard as well as accessible formats, on the Government website (ireland.ie), as well as the EU Presidency website (ireland2026.eu or eire2026.eu).
An inclusive outreach and engagement programme is a key feature of Ireland’s EU Presidency, which seeks to ensure that communities across Ireland have the opportunity to engage with the Presidency. As part of this programme, following a tendering process, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade contracted independent Irish Publisher Little Island Books to produce a special edition book suitable for sixth class children.
Written by author Siobhán Parkinson and illustrated by Nene Lonergan, the book presents the content of the Government’s EU Presidency Policy Programme, which was launched on 10 June, in an accessible manner which ensures that children have the opportunity to learn about the work of the Irish Presidency. A competition open to primary school pupils will be launched in the coming weeks, and offer children the opportunity to engage with the publication in a structured way with the support of their teachers, and share their opinions and perspectives on the Presidency.
Careful planning has taken place to ensure that costs are managed across all areas of the Presidency outreach and engagement programme to ensure value for money. Contracts were awarded in line with public procurement rules, and with the support and advice of the Office of Government Procurement.
In this case, two separate contracts were awarded, one to develop and design the publication and the second to print and distribute the physical copies. The total contract value was €124,918 ( €153,649 including VAT). The publisher was contracted to project-manage the publication following a request for proposals that issued to publishers operating in the Irish market in December 2026. The printing and distribution contract was centrally procured, with the support of the Office of Government Procurement, and the most economically advantageous tender was selected in June 2026.
A total of 89,850 books were printed, with the vast majority being dispatched directly to every primary school and special school in the state during the first fortnight of the school term. In a communication to schools outlining the initiative, principals were asked to ensure that every sixth class pupil in their school receives their own individual copy to take home and keep. Copies of the book will also be made available through the Irish library network later this month, in addition to the digital versions available online.
This represents a unit cost of €1.39 excluding VAT, or €1.71 including VAT, per book printed. Irish creatives and SMEs were involved in the production of the book, which has been produced to a high standard. Given the expected readership and impact of this publication, alongside the quality of the book produced, I am satisfied that these costs represent value for money.
89. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the total level of funding that has been provided to the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) programme, broken down by year, in tabular form. [65554/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra90. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the total level of funding that has been provided to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) programme, broken down by year, in tabular form. [65553/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra91. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on the importance of Ireland’s continued support for the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) programme. [65552/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra92. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on the importance of Ireland’s continued support for the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) programme. [65551/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra94. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding any plans to continue Ireland’s support for the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) programme. [65556/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra95. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding any plans to continue Ireland’s support for the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) programme. [65555/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 89 to 92, inclusive, and 94 and 95 together.
The Government's clear commitment to support for global education is based on our recognition that quality education as a key driver of poverty reduction, gender equality and stability. It is also an economic imperative. It increases earnings, drives job creation and broadens the tax base. In turn, this creates fiscal space for partner governments to invest in public services and resilience, helping countries strengthen self-reliance and reduce dependence on international assistance.
Ireland's continued support for global education remains important at a time when progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, 'Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all', is off track and significant numbers of children remain out of school or unable to achieve basic learning outcomes. Through support for global education initiatives, Ireland contributes to strengthening education systems, promoting gender equality and improving opportunities for the most marginalised children.
In 2025, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provided €52.6 million in support of inclusive and equitable quality education, with a particular focus on girls and those furthest behind. Support was delivered through a range of complementary channels. These included direct funding for education programmes implemented by civil society and faith-based organisations and United Nations agencies; contributions to multilateral education funds, including Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE); and support for the Ireland Fellows Programme. We intend to continue supporting global education through a mix of bilateral programmes, multilateral partnerships and scholarship initiatives, including ECW and GPE.
Officials are currently engaging with ECW and GPE regarding their upcoming financing and replenishment events. However, decisions regarding the allocation of Ireland's global education funding beyond 2026 have not yet been finalised. All allocations are informed by evidence of impact, assessments of partner performance, value-for-money considerations, strategic priorities and the overall level of resources available for international development cooperation. This approach will help ensure that Irish resources continue to be directed towards the most effective global education interventions. Our funding to ECW and GPW since 2017 is set out below:
|
Year |
GPE |
ECW |
|
2017 |
€ 4,000,000 |
€ - |
|
2018 |
€ 10,544,300 |
€ - |
|
2019 |
€ 7,500,000 |
€ 4,000,000 |
|
2020 |
€ 7,000,000 |
€ 850,000 |
|
2021 |
€ 10,000,000 |
€ 4,000,000 |
|
2022 |
€ 12,000,000 |
€ 3,000,000 |
|
2023 |
€ 13,000,000 |
€ 5,500,000 |
|
2024 |
€ 13,000,000 |
€ 5,500,000 |
|
2025 |
€ 12,000,000 |
€ 7,000,000 |
|
2026 |
€ tbc |
€ 6,000,000 |
|
Total 2017-2026 |
€ 89,044,300 |
€ 35,850,000 |
