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Ireland is to reopen its consulate in Cardiff this year.

The location of the new building is not yet known but it is scheduled to open by summer 2019.

The office will be staffed by two officers from headquarters in Dublin and two locally recruited staff.

Part of the reason for the reopening is an improving financial position for Ireland, and maintaining future ties after Brexit.

A spokeswoman for the Irish Government's department of foreign affairs and trade said: "The United Kingdom is Ireland’s nearest neighbour and a hugely significant economic partner.

"Maintaining and growing our relationship beyond any UK exit from the European Union is paramount.

"The re-opening of the Consulate General in Cardiff would be an important element in deepening this key partnership. It is a concrete recognition of the importance of our political and economic ties with Wales and sustaining those links after Brexit.

"It is proposed that the Consulate General would have an economic and political focus.

"Ireland is Wales’ fourth largest trading partner. There are an estimated 85 Irish companies with a presence in Wales, employing just over 5,500 people.

"This is a growing economic relationship, with the value of Welsh exports to Ireland 15 per cent higher in 2017 than in 2016.

The former consulate was on Fitzalan Road in Cardiff and closed in 2009 in a bid to cut Irish government costs.

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Then First Minister Rhodri Morgan wrote to the then-minister for foreign affair asking him to reconsider his decision.

The spokeswoman said that the reopening had been welcomed by the Welsh Government.

"At the time of the closure of the Consulate in 2009, it was indicated to the Welsh Government that this decision was taken for financial reasons only, and that Ireland would look to reopen the Consulate when the situation improved," she said.

"The Welsh Government has welcomed the announcement that the Consulate will be re-opened and there has already been engagement between our administrations on building further cooperation once the consulate is in place."