Too many overseas missions and embassies, says McCarthy

THERE are too many staff employed in overseas missions and Ireland has too many embassies abroad, An Bord Snip Nua has said.

Colm McCarthy’s group maintains annual savings of almost €42m could be made in the Department of Foreign Affairs by cutting back on funding for overseas missions, getting rid of embassies and axing at least 65 staff.

The board highlighted that a significant proportion of the department’s expenditure is in respect of its overseas missions – most of which are small.

Excessive staff numbers were flagged, as according to the report, there are 646 staff working abroad – 300 of which are drivers, household staff, and porters.

As well as cutting staff, the report recommended embassies and consulates be reduced from 76 to 55.

In respect of Irish Aid, the report maintains that given the current climate, the Government has a “compelling case” for suspending aid until the worst of the recession is over.

But as commitments have been made internationally, it instead recommends that the allocation for overseas development remain at its current level of 0.48% of GNP. This, it states, would save almost €15m annually.

In what may be seem a petty recommendation, it is proposed that over-65s, currently eligible for free passports, should pay the full charge, saving €4.6m annually.

The board has also recommended reductions of over 500 personnel in the Defence Forces through natural wastage and the non-filling of non-essential vacancies.

It says personnel should be consolidated into fewer barracks, and Cathal Brugha barracks in Rathmines closed.

The report also advises the Reserve Defence Force, formerly known as the FCA be cut by at least two-thirds.

Controversially, the report recommends that Ireland ends its peacekeeping mission in Chad in March 2010 and cut overseas commitments to a few key missions.

The report also calls for the disposal of property that is not being fully, economically used by the Defence Forces.

Another unusual recommendation made within the report is the axing of the army equestrian team which will achieve a relatively modest saving of just €1 million.

Proposals likely to be welcomed within the Defence Forces, include charging government departments the full cost for use of Air Corps aircraft for transporting government ministers.