IRELAND HAS DOZENS of diplomatic missions across the world, ranging from consulates to fully-fledged embassies.

A series of parliamentary questions from Sinn Féin Seán Crowe to the Minister for Foreign Affairs has revealed the money involved in the upkeep of these.

This includes figures for 2014 the rent paid for each, various costs incurred, and the value of the handful of embassies are owned by the State.

The figures for Paris stands out.

The Embassy of Ireland in Paris, with an address at 4 Rue Rude in the centre of the city, is worth €45 million

It’s a 250 metre walk to the Arc de Triomphe.

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The bill for its activities last year was also quite steep at €3,330,617.

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And, it’s located right across the road from an old toilet and very typically French car.

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The building itself, tucked away on a side street, isn’t particularly impressive in itself, but take a brief walk down the road and you’ll see this:

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Another pricey property owned by the State is the embassy in Italy, worth €18,455,260.

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The most expensive rented property is in Brussels, housing the permanent representation to the European Union, and cost €1,024,730 in 2014.

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The mission to the United Nations office in New York, located in the building on the right below, cost €689,849 in rent…

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… while rent for the London embassy cost a little more at €692,374.

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In his response to the questions from Deputy Crowe, Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan cautioned that some of the the prices of the properties which are owned by the State are “valuations which are subject to the price volatility of the current global property market”.

“The work of our missions around the world continues to be important in Ireland’s economic recovery and the restoration of our international reputation,” he added.

Read: Here’s how much Princes Charles’ visit to Ireland cost the taxpayer >

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