Subsistence Allowances Abroad

1 Ref: DPE126/008/2015 6th March 2017 Circular 07/2017: Subsistence Allowances Abroad A Dhuine Uasail 1. I am directed by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to refer to the revision of rates of Subsistence allowance payable to civil servants in respect of absences Abroad on official business, as set out in the Appendices 1 and 2 to this Circular. 2. The revised rates will come into effect from 1st April 2017. 3. In accordance with changes in the Domestic Subsistence and reflecting modern requirements for official foreign travel, the Class B rate for foreign Subsistence will no longer be used.

2 4. The rate formerly referred to as the Conference Rate has now been renamed the Vouched Accommodation ( VA ) Rate. The Vouched Accommodation rate consists of the vouched costs of accommodation plus the rate listed in the VA Rate column. 5. In most circumstances, the Overnight Rate in respect of accommodation and three meals will apply. However, the use of the Vouched Accommodation Rate may be justified in certain cases. Officers should familiarise themselves with their Department s / Office s guidelines on when the VA Rate may be claimed in the first instance.

3 Examples of such cases may include: a. In all cases where travel is to Brussels on overnight visits; b. Where accommodation is provided at no cost to the officer; c. Where the Department/Office sources reasonably-priced accommodation on behalf of the officer through a travel provider; 6. Officers should continue to observe all instructions in force from time to time relating to Foreign Travel and Subsistence , most recently the Department of Finance Foreign Travel Policy Guidelines issued in 2009.

4 7. Expenditure on travel and Subsistence must continue to be strictly appraised and monitored. Officers who travel Abroad should limit reimbursable expenditure to the minimum consistent with the requirements of the visit. Heads of Departments should continue to ensure that only essential travel is undertaken and that the number of officers on any official journey is kept to the absolute minimum. 8. This circular should be brought to the attention of all bodies under the aegis of your Department or Office and all officers in your Department or Office who are responsible for foreign travel.

5 9. Enquiries from individual officers in respect of this circular or enquiries regarding rates applicable to locations which are not listed in the Appendices should be addressed to the HR Unit of the employing Department/Office in the first instance. Any enquiries about the application of this Circular from Departments should be emailed to This Circular is also available on Mise le meas Colin Menton Assistant Secretary To/All Departments etc. Attached: 1. Appendix 1: Short list of countries 2.

6 Appendix 2: Long list of countries (Note Due to inconsistencies identified in certain rates, the Appendices were reissued on 24th March 2017 to incorporate some minor amendments.) * - Rates are available for other locations in these countries on request from Personnel Units# - Actual cost = Vouched cost of accommodation & three meals plus 10 for incidental expenses.^ - Brussels: Vouched cost of room plus the VA rate is applicable to all officers travelling to Brussels on overnight visits (In general, the Vouched Accommodation (VA) rate should not be routinely claimed except in Brussels)COUNTRY (Currency)VA Rate10 Hour5 HourAUSTRIA (Euro)Bregenz, Graz, , Linz, Salzburg, #Actual vouched costs + 10 BELGIUM (Euro)Brussels ^ & NTH IRELAND ( Sterling) (Lev) *SofiaB&B of 154 euro (Canadian $) * (Renminbi)*Beijing AKA Peking1, (Kuna)*Zagreb1, (Euro)

7 * REPUBLIC (Korunas) Prague B&B of 126 euro plus1, , , of euro , (Krone)Copenhagen2, , , , (Euro) * (Euro) RateAppendix 1 to Circular 07/2017: Subsistence Allowances Abroad (Short List)Effective from 1st April Officers travelling to destinations which are not included in this Appendix should confirm the appropriate Subsistence rates with the Personnel Unit of their employing Department/Office prior to rates are applicable to all officers travelling Abroad on official businessLegend Key:Appendix 1 - Circular 07/2017 COUNTRY (Currency)VA Rate10 Hour5 HourOvernight RateFRANCE (Euro) * (Euro) (Euro) * (Forints & Euro) *BudapestB&B of 137 euro plus16, , , , (Euro) Bologna, Florence, Genoa, Milan, Turin & & (Yen) *Tokyo29, , , , , , , , (Euro) * (Euro) *VilniusB&B of 93 euro (Euro) * (Euro)Valletta, (Euro) (Kroner) *Oslo2, , (Zlotys & Euro) All LocationsB&B of 115 euro (Euro) * #Actual vouched costs + 10 ROMANIA (Ron & Euro)BucharestB&B of 147 euro (Euro)

8 * #Actual vouched costs + 10 SLOVENIA (Euro) #Actual vouched costs + 10 SPAIN (Euro) 1 - Circular 07/2017 COUNTRY (Currency)VA Rate10 Hour5 HourOvernight RateSWEDEN (Sek) Stockholm2, , #Actual vouched costs + 10 SWITZERLAND (Sw Francs) #Actual vouched costs + 10 USA (Dollars) * (Note: these rates were recirculated on 24th March 2017 to incorporate some minor amendments to certain rates)Appendix 1 - Circular 07/2017 CountryCityCurrencyCODEVA Rate^10 Hour5 Hour^(see note 2)AFGHANISTAN Kabul US$ Elsewhere * (*see Note 1 below)US$USDALBANIA Tirana LekALLB&B europlus8, , , , Elsewhere *LekALLALGERIA AlgiersAlgerian DinarsDZD33, , , , Elsewhere * (includes Annaba & Oran)

9 Algerian DinarsDZDANDORRA - See SpainANGOLA LuandaAngolan KwanzaAOAB&B of US$plus18, , , , Elsewhere Angolan KwanzaAOAB&B of US$plus18, , , , Anguilla US$ Elsewhere *US$USDANTIGUA & BARBUDASt. Johns EC$XCDRoom US$ & BARBUDA Elsewhere *EC$XCDARGENTINA Buenos Aires Argentine PesosARSB&B US$ Elsewhere *Argentine PesosARSARMENIA Yerevan DramAMD105, , , , Elsewhere *DramAMDASCENSION ISLAND Ascension Island *SterlingGBPASCENSION ISLAND Elsewhere *SterlingGBPAUSTRALIA Adelaide Australian $ Brisbane Australian $ Canberra Australian $ Darwin Australian $ HobartAustralian $ Melbourne Australian $ Perth Australian $ SydneyAustralian $ Elsewhere *Australian $AUDAUSTRIA Bregenz, Graz, , Linz, Salzburg.

10 Elsewhere *EuroEURAZERBAIJHAN Baku Elsewhere *ManatsAZNBAHAMAS Nassau *US$USDBAHAMAS Elsewhere *US$USDO vernightAppendix 2 - Circular 07/2017 CountryCityCurrencyCODEVA Rate^10 Hour5 HourOvernightBAHRAIN Bahrain Ba Elsewhere *Ba DinarsBHDBANGLADESH Chittagong *TakaBDTBANGLADESH Dhaka TakaBDTB&B US$plus3, , , , Elsewhere *TakaBDTBARBADOS Bridgetown Barbados $BBDB&B US$ Elsewhere *Barbados $BBDBELARUS Minsk US$ Elsewhere *US$USDBELGIUM Brussels Elsewhere Belize City Belize $BZDRoom US$ Belmopan Belize $ Elsewhere *Belize $BZDBENIN Contonou *CFA FrancsXOFBENIN Elsewhere *CFA FrancsXOFBERMUDA Hamilton Bermuda $ Elsewhere *Bermuda $BMDBOLIVIA Cochabamba BolivianoBOBB&B US$ La Paz BolivianoBOB1.