Michael McNamara
Question:348. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5855/22]
View answerWritten Answers Nos. 348-369
348. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5855/22]
View answerWith regard to the specific passport application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is currently under consideration by the Passport Service. The Passport Service will be in touch shortly with the applicant.
349. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish citizens abroad receiving consular or embassy assistance while being incarcerated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5873/22]
View answerConsular assistance was requested and provided in approximately 320 cases involving Irish citizens imprisoned overseas between 2015 and 2021. In 2021, there were 23 new cases of Irish citizens in prison overseas in receipt of consular support.
The Department of Foreign Affairs provides consular assistance and support to any Irish citizen imprisoned overseas who requests our help. Our Embassies and Consulates provide direct assistance in many cases, through consular visits, when permitted, and through practical advice and assistance to individual detainees. Information on the types of assistance we can and cannot provide can be found at www.dfa.ie/travel/assistance-abroad/arrested-or-detained-abroad/.
My Department also works through our partnership with the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO), which receives funding from our Emigrant Support Programme to support Irish prisoners overseas and their loved ones.
It should be noted that it is not possible to provide precise statistics for the number of Irish citizens detained or imprisoned overseas. In some cases the individuals involved do not seek any assistance or do not want the Irish authorities to be informed of their situations. In some other cases, regrettably, local authorities sometimes fail to notify the Irish authorities of the imprisonment of our citizens.
350. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way a person (details supplied) can cancel their application when they cannot access the passport office on the number provided by the Houses of the Oireachtas urgent query service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5875/22]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the application has been cancelled as requested.
351. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5884/22]
View answer352. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a first-time passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited given the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5924/22]
View answer361. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the issues with a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6055/22]
View answer364. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo given the estimated issue date for the passport was 11 November 2021. [6132/22]
View answer382. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if an update will be provided in relation to a passport for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6495/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 351, 352, 361, 364 and 382 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.
353. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5936/22]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update to the applicant.
354. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passports that are currently being processed; the current turnaround time for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5991/22]
View answer355. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to expand the capacity of the passport office to improve turnaround times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5993/22]
View answer356. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a commitment will be given to reopen the passport printing service and the introduction of an urgent appointment, one-day turnaround time in the passport office in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5994/22]
View answer359. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that despite recent actions adopted to improve services at the Passport Office many people are still experiencing extensive delays across the board in terms of first-time passports and renewals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6025/22]
View answer363. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the rapid renewal service (details supplied) will be reopened; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6104/22]
View answer386. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way that he plans to address the significant delays for those who apply by post for a passport renewal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6612/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 354, 355, 356, 359, 363 and 386 together.
In January 2022, the Passport Service received over 137,000 new passport applications. This is the highest volume of monthly applications ever received and indicates that there is pent-up demand for passports following the relaxation of necessary travel restrictions due to the Covid pandemic. The Passport Service estimates that up to 1.7 million passport applications will be received this year.
The Passport Service issued over 634,000 passports in 2021 and 45% of simple adult renewals were issued within one business day.
While there is a very high volume of applications in the system, this does not represent a backlog. Figures show that there are currently 76,000 (53%) applications that are fully complete and are being processed by the Passport Service. There are also 67,000 applications (47%) in the system where the Passport Service is waiting for the customer to complete the application. In these cases, the onus is on the customer to submit the required documents to the Service. While the Passport Service makes every effort to contact applicants in such circumstances, their experience is that many applicants take weeks and sometimes months to send in the necessary documents.
The current passport processing times are:
- 10 working days for Simple Adult online renewals
- 15 working days for Complex or child online renewals
- 40 working days for First Time Applications on Passport Online
- 8 weeks for An Post’s mail-in “Passport Express” service
The processing times for a standard online renewal passport applications compare very favourably to processing times internationally in countries such as the UK, United States, Canada and Australia.
The Passport Service is currently experiencing high demand for first time passports, particularly for children. These first time applications are necessarily complex to process, since they are essentially applications for Irish citizenship. The Passport Service must validate the true identity of the applicant and take measures to confirm the applicant’s entitlement to Irish citizenship. It is the statutory responsibility of the Passport Service to protect the integrity of the Irish passport. Accordingly, a rigorous analysis process is in place to verify the identity and citizenship status of first time applicants. In the case of first time passport applications for children, the consent of guardians must also be thoroughly validated. Due to the intensive analysis underpinning first time online passport applications, the processing time is 40 working days.
My Department has been pro-actively planning to ensure the necessary resources are in place to meet the current and expected level of demand in 2022 and is making an unprecedented investment in the Passport Service in terms of additional staff and improvements to the passport processing and customer service systems.
My Department is working with the Public Appointments Service on a major recruitment drive that has been underway for several months. Since June of 2021, over 300 members of staff at all grades have been assigned to the Passport Service. Additional staff are being assigned on a weekly basis with a goal of reaching staff numbers of 900 by the end of March. This represents a doubling of staff numbers over the course of 9 months.
The Passport Service is implementing a number of further measures that will positively impact the current turnaround times and improve customer service:
- Intensive training of new staff and upskilling of existing staff is underway to increase the resources that can process complex applications.
- The Passport Service is actively prioritising first time applications and directing increased resources to processing these complex applications with a view to reducing the current turnaround time.
- A new document management process is being put in place that allows for a much quicker turnaround time when an applicant is asked to submit additional documents. Once these documents are received, they will be prioritised and complete applications will be processed in 3 weeks. This will greatly reduce the waiting time for applicants who are missing documents in their initial application.
In the context of the National Development Plan, my Department is making a major investment in the future of the Passport Service. Over the next couple of years, we will replace the core technology underpinning the service, which will deliver efficiencies and a more resilient passport system. Budget 2022 also included an investment of an additional €10m in passport services in response to the increasing demand for passports both at home and abroad.
The Passport Service Customer Service Hub officers respond to customer queries by phone and webchat as well as with enquiries related to Emergency Passport cases. The Customer Service Hub handled over 175,000 enquiries in 2021 and is handling over 5,000 customer contacts each week. During times of high demand, there can be delays in getting through to a service agent due to the volumes of enquiries. The Passport Service webchat is also operational and customers should refresh the page if the icon is grey. A webchat operator is available when the icon is green. I am confident that the recruitment of additional staff, along with significant training initiatives, will have a positive impact on our response to customer service demand.
The Passport Service operates three passport printing machines, two of which are located in the main production facility in Balbriggan and the third in the Passport Office in Lower Mount Street, Dublin. Passport applications from citizens residing in Ireland or elsewhere in the world are distributed for processing across the three Passport Offices. All passport applications are processed through the centralised automated passport service system. All production facilities can print a passport, irrespective of the channel through which the application is processed. The printing system allows for flexibility between printing machines if any one machine has reached capacity. Each passport printer has a printing capacity of 250 passports per hour. I am satisfied that the printing capacity of production equipment currently employed by the Passport Service is sufficient to meet the current and anticipated future demand for passports. There are no plans at this time to commission additional passport production equipment.
The Passport Offices in Mount St, Dublin 2 and in Cork offer an Urgent Appointment Service for the renewal of passports. This service was launched in Dublin on 27th September 2021 and in Cork on 26th October 2021. The Urgent Appointment Service ensures that, for those who unexpectedly require a very urgent turnaround of a passport renewal, there is an option available that is transparent, predictable and clear. It means that an applicant can book and pay for their appointment, safe in the knowledge that they will have their passport within a day, or a few days. To avail of the Urgent Appointment Service for Passport Renewal, applicants must first book an appointment to attend the public office in Dublin or Cork. Applicants can book an appointment through the Department of Foreign Affairs website (www.dfa.ie/passports).
The Urgent Appointment Service replaced the Rapid Renewal Service and customers availing of this service can renew their passport within 1 or 4 days in Dublin or in 4 days in Cork.
Over 2,500 citizens who required an urgent appointment have been accommodated by the passport offices in Dublin and Cork since they re-opened. Last week, the Passport Service has increased the number of appointments at its public offices by 100%, providing an extra 170 appointments per week.
The Travel Emergency service remains available to citizens in cases of medical emergency or death of a family member abroad.
The current turnaround time for An Post’s mail-in “Passport Express” service is 8 weeks. Proposed turnaround times for 2022 aim to reduce this turnaround time. Passport Online is the priority channel for applications as there are many efficiencies built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The Passport Online Service is four times quicker than paper-based applications for adult and child renewal applications and is the fastest, easiest and safest way to apply for a passport. Over 90% of applicants now apply online compared to 47% of applications received online in 2019.
Passport Online can be accessed by all first time applicants, irrespective of age both children and adults, in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. All Irish citizens, including children, can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world.
I strongly urge anyone who is considering travelling overseas this year, particularly families with young children, to check the validity of their passports before booking travel and to apply for their passports online in plenty of time.
357. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); the actions his Department has taken in relation to this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6003/22]
View answerRespect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels.
I note with concern the details in the case referred to by the Deputy. Officials from my Department have raised concerns over the human rights situation in Bahrain directly with the Bahraini authorities, including the specific case of Dr. Abduljalil Alsingace.
Our active participation at the UN Human Rights Council is a particularly important fora in which to raise our concerns regarding human rights. Ireland has raised the human rights issues in Bahrain at the Human Rights Council in the form of national statements and through support to EU Statements.Ireland also engages on the issue of human rights in Bahrain as a member of the European Union. At the most recent EU-Bahrain Human Rights Dialogue in February 2021, issues of concern were raised by the EU including rule of law, prison conditions, right to a fair trial, freedom of expression, freedom of association, death penalty, torture and the impact of Covid-19 on the human rights situation.
The EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, has also made representations to the Bahraini authorities on human rights issues, including the detention of a number of individuals.
Ireland will continue to monitor developments in Bahrain, and calls on the Bahraini Government to deliver on its stated commitment to make progress in relation to human rights.
358. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the changes that have been made regarding Irish-Bahraini relations since the deteriorating human rights conditions have been brought to the attention of his Department by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6004/22]
View answerRespect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels.
I am aware of the concerns regarding the human rights situation in Bahrain. Officials from my Department have raised concerns over the human rights situation in Bahrain directly with the Bahraini authorities, including the issue of freedom of expression, detention of human rights defenders, and conditions in prisons.
Our active participation at the UN Human Rights Council is a particularly important fora in which to raise our concerns regarding human rights. Ireland has raised the human rights issues in Bahrain at the Human Rights Council in the form of national statements and through support to EU Statements.Ireland also engages on the issue of human rights in Bahrain as a member of the European Union. At the most recent EU-Bahrain Human Rights Dialogue in February 2021, issues of concern were raised by the EU including rule of law, prison conditions, right to a fair trial, freedom of expression, freedom of association, death penalty, torture and the impact of Covid-19 on the human rights situation.
The EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, has also made representations to the Bahraini authorities on human rights issues, including the detention of a number of individuals.
Ireland will continue to monitor developments in Bahrain, and calls on the Bahraini Government to deliver on its stated commitment to make progress in relation to human rights.
360. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the agencies under the remit of his Department; the amount that has been spent on all Covid-19-related consultancy contracts by his Department and agencies under his remit in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the amount paid for each consultant; and the reason for the consultancy. [6038/22]
View answerThe Department engages external contractors, consultancy services, professional services and outsourcing services where highly specialised skills are not available internally and in particular, where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is necessary.
The Department did not engage any Covid-19-related consultancies in the years in question.
There are no agencies under the remit of the Department.
362. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding a passport renewal application by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6103/22]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the applicant mistakenly applied for a first time passport rather than a passport renewal when completing the application form online. As a result, the estimated issue date given was in line with processing times for first time applications.
The Passport Service has issued a passport to this applicant.
365. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a schedule of the time backlogs on all accepted foreign-birth Irish passport applications by country; and the additional resources he has provided and will provide to clear these backlogs. [6180/22]
View answer368. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a schedule of the time backlogs on all accepted foreign Irish passport renewal applications by country; and the additional resources he has provided and will provide to clear these backlogs. [6183/22]
View answerI propose to answer Questions Nos. 365 and 368 together.
The tables below outline the numbers of passport applications on hand with the Passport Service from overseas by country. Table 1 details the number of complete online applications that are with the Passport Service for processing. Table 2 details the number of incomplete online applications that require additional action by the applicant to be completed. This may include the submission of witnessed child identity and consent forms or documents such as birth certificates. These applications cannot be processed by the Passport Service until the required documents are received.
While there is a very high volume of applications in the system, this does not represent a backlog. In January the Passport Service received over 137,000 applications. Figures show that there are currently 76,000 (53%) applications that are fully complete and are being processed by the Passport Service. There are also 67,000 applications (47%) in the system which the Passport Service is waiting for the customer to complete the application.
The current passport processing times are:
- 10 working days for Simple Adult online renewals
- 15 working days for Complex or child online renewals
- 40 working days for First Time Applications on Passport Online
- 8 weeks for An Post’s mail-in “Passport Express” service
Online processing times apply to all online applications regardless of whether they originate in Ireland or overseas. These processing times are in addition to the time it takes for the postal provider to deliver the passport. This can vary depending on the applicant's location.
The Passport Service is facing its busiest year to date with an estimated 1.7 million passport applications expected. This volume of passport applications represents a significant increase from the previous high number of applications in 2019 when 935,000 passports were issued. My Department has been pro-actively planning to ensure the necessary resources are in place to meet this level of demand and is making an unprecedented investment in the Passport Service in terms of additional staff and improvements to the passport processing and customer service systems.
My Department is working with the Public Appointments Service on a major recruitment drive that has been underway for several months. Since June of 2021, over 300 members of staff at all grades have been assigned to the Passport Service. Additional staff are being assigned on a weekly basis with a goal of reaching staff numbers of 900 by the end of March. This represents a doubling of staff numbers over the course of 9 months.
The Passport Service is implementing a number of further measures that will positively impact the current turnaround times and improve customer service:
Intensive training of new staff and upskilling of existing staff is underway to increase the resources that can process complex applications.
The Passport Service is actively prioritising first time applications and directing increased resources to processing these complex applications with a view to reducing the current turnaround time.
A new document management process is being put in place that allows for a much quicker turnaround time when an applicant is asked to submit additional documents. Once these documents are received, they will be prioritised and complete applications will be processed in 3 weeks. This will greatly reduce the waiting time for applicants who are missing documents in their initial application.
In the context of the National Development Plan, my Department is making a major investment in the future of the Passport Service. Over the next couple of years, we will replace the core technology underpinning the service, which will deliver efficiencies and a more resilient passport system. Budget 2022 also included an investment of an additional €10m in passport services in response to the increasing demand for passports both at home and abroad.
We are confident that the measures that have been implemented will help to reduce passport turnaround times in the course of 2022, particularly for first time applications, and will assist the Passport Service in meeting the high demand forecast for this year.
Table 1 - Complete online applications with Passport Service for processing
Country |
Adult/Child FTA*/Renewal |
Total per category |
Total |
ALBANIA |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
1 |
ARGENTINA |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
1 |
AUSTRALIA |
Adult FTA |
292 |
573 |
AUSTRALIA |
Adult Renewal |
46 |
|
AUSTRALIA |
Child FTA |
219 |
|
AUSTRALIA |
Child Renewal |
16 |
|
AUSTRIA |
Adult FTA |
13 |
19 |
AUSTRIA |
Adult Renewal |
2 |
|
AUSTRIA |
Child FTA |
4 |
|
BARBADOS |
Child Renewal |
1 |
1 |
BELGIUM |
Adult FTA |
19 |
42 |
BELGIUM |
Adult Renewal |
6 |
|
BELGIUM |
Child FTA |
14 |
|
BELGIUM |
Child Renewal |
3 |
|
BULGARIA |
Adult FTA |
5 |
5 |
CANADA |
Adult FTA |
308 |
410 |
CANADA |
Adult Renewal |
19 |
|
CANADA |
Child FTA |
75 |
|
CANADA |
Child Renewal |
8 |
|
CANARY ISLANDS |
Adult FTA |
2 |
6 |
CANARY ISLANDS |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
CANARY ISLANDS |
Child FTA |
3 |
|
CHILE |
Adult FTA |
2 |
4 |
CHILE |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
CHILE |
Child FTA |
1 |
|
COLOMBIA |
Child FTA |
1 |
1 |
CROATIA |
Adult FTA |
1 |
1 |
CYPRUS |
Child FTA |
4 |
7 |
CYPRUS |
Adult FTA |
3 |
|
CZECH REPUBLIC |
Child FTA |
8 |
11 |
CZECH REPUBLIC |
Adult FTA |
3 |
|
DENMARK |
Adult FTA |
17 |
29 |
DENMARK |
Child FTA |
12 |
|
ECUADOR |
Adult FTA |
2 |
3 |
ECUADOR |
Child Renewal |
1 |
|
EGYPT |
Adult Renewal |
2 |
2 |
ESTONIA |
Adult FTA |
1 |
1 |
FINLAND |
Adult FTA |
12 |
16 |
FINLAND |
Child FTA |
4 |
|
FRANCE |
Adult FTA |
176 |
253 |
FRANCE |
Adult Renewal |
4 |
|
FRANCE |
Child FTA |
65 |
|
FRANCE |
Child Renewal |
8 |
|
GERMANY |
Adult FTA |
81 |
118 |
GERMANY |
Adult Renewal |
4 |
|
GERMANY |
Child FTA |
33 |
|
GHANA |
Child Renewal |
2 |
2 |
GIBRALTAR |
Adult FTA |
11 |
16 |
GIBRALTAR |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
GIBRALTAR |
Child FTA |
4 |
|
GREECE |
Adult FTA |
8 |
11 |
GREECE |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
GREECE |
Child FTA |
1 |
|
GREECE |
Child Renewal |
1 |
|
GUERNSEY |
Adult FTA |
10 |
11 |
GUERNSEY |
Child FTA |
1 |
|
HONG KONG |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
1 |
HUNGARY |
Adult FTA |
4 |
7 |
HUNGARY |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
HUNGARY |
Child FTA |
1 |
|
HUNGARY |
Child Renewal |
1 |
|
ICELAND |
Adult FTA |
2 |
2 |
INDIA |
Adult FTA |
2 |
2 |
INDONESIA |
Child FTA |
1 |
2 |
INDONESIA |
Child Renewal |
1 |
|
ISLE OF MAN |
Adult FTA |
32 |
44 |
ISLE OF MAN |
Adult Renewal |
3 |
|
ISLE OF MAN |
Child FTA |
8 |
|
ISLE OF MAN |
Child Renewal |
1 |
|
ISRAEL |
Adult Renew |
1 |
2 |
ISRAEL |
Child Renewal |
1 |
|
ITALY |
Adult FTA |
30 |
42 |
ITALY |
Child FTA |
10 |
|
ITALY |
Child Renewal |
2 |
|
JAPAN |
Adult FTA |
1 |
2 |
JAPAN |
Child Renewal |
1 |
|
JORDAN |
Child Renewal |
1 |
1 |
KENYA |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
1 |
LATVIA |
Child FTA |
1 |
1 |
LITHUANIA |
Adult FTA |
2 |
3 |
LITHUANIA |
Child FTA |
1 |
|
LUXEMBOURG |
Child FTA |
9 |
17 |
LUXEMBOURG |
Child Renewal |
1 |
|
LUXEMBOURG |
Adult FTA |
7 |
|
MALTA |
Adult FTA |
8 |
13 |
MALTA |
Child FTA |
5 |
|
MEXICO |
Child Renewal |
2 |
2 |
NETHERLANDS |
Adult FTA |
46 |
75 |
NETHERLANDS |
Adult Renewal |
6 |
|
NETHERLANDS |
Child FTA |
18 |
|
NETHERLANDS |
Child Renewal |
5 |
|
NEW ZEALAND |
Adult FTA |
81 |
115 |
NEW ZEALAND |
Adult Renewal |
5 |
|
NEW ZEALAND |
Child FTA |
24 |
|
NEW ZEALAND |
Child Renewal |
5 |
|
NIGERIA |
Child Renewal |
1 |
1 |
NORWAY |
Adult FTA |
9 |
14 |
NORWAY |
Adult Renweal |
2 |
|
NORWAY |
Child FTA |
3 |
|
PAKISTAN |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
1 |
PANAMA |
Child FTA |
1 |
1 |
PERU |
Adult FTA |
1 |
1 |
PHILIPPINES |
Adult FTA |
1 |
2 |
PHILIPPINES |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
POLAND |
Child FTA |
10 |
31 |
POLAND |
Child Renewal |
7 |
|
POLAND |
Adult FTA |
14 |
|
PORTUGAL |
Child FTA |
13 |
21 |
PORTUGAL |
Adult FTA |
8 |
|
QATAR |
Child FTA |
1 |
1 |
ROMANIA |
Adult FTA |
2 |
4 |
ROMANIA |
Adult Renewal |
2 |
|
SAUDI ARABIA |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
1 |
SINGAPORE |
Child Renewal |
2 |
5 |
SINGAPORE |
Child FTA |
1 |
|
SINGAPORE |
Adult FTA |
1 |
|
SINGAPORE |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
SLOVAK REPUBLIC |
Child FTA |
2 |
2 |
SLOVENIA |
Adult FTA |
2 |
2 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
Adult Renewal |
7 |
13 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
Child Renewal |
6 |
|
SPAIN |
Adult FTA |
171 |
225 |
SPAIN |
Adult Renewal |
7 |
|
SPAIN |
Child FTA |
43 |
|
SPAIN |
Child Renewal |
4 |
|
SWEDEN |
Adult FTA |
12 |
19 |
SWEDEN |
Child FTA |
7 |
|
SWITZERLAND |
Adult FTA |
40 |
81 |
SWITZERLAND |
Adult Renewal |
3 |
|
SWITZERLAND |
Child FTA |
32 |
|
SWITZERLAND |
Child Renewal |
6 |
|
THAILAND |
Child Renewal |
4 |
7 |
THAILAND |
Adult Renewal |
3 |
|
UKRAINE |
Child Renewal |
2 |
2 |
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
Child Renewal |
8 |
14 |
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
Adult Renewal |
6 |
|
UNITED KINGDOM |
Adult FTA |
8,427 |
10,393 |
UNITED KINGDOM |
Adult Renewal |
326 |
|
UNITED KINGDOM |
FTA |
1,501 |
|
UNITED KINGDOM |
Renewal |
139 |
|
UNITED STATES |
Adult FTA |
1,621 |
2,096 |
UNITED STATES |
Adult Renewal |
56 |
|
UNITED STATES |
Adult FTA |
379 |
|
UNITED STATES |
Adult Renewal |
40 |
|
ZIMBABWE |
Child Renewal |
1 |
1 |
14,814 |
*FTA refers to First Time Applicant
Table 2 - Incomplete online passport applications with applicant for further action
Country |
Adult/Child FTA/Renewal |
Total per category |
Total |
AFGHANISTAN |
Adult FTA |
1 |
1 |
ALBANIA |
Adult FTA |
1 |
1 |
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA |
Adult FTA |
1 |
1 |
ARGENTINA |
Child Renewal |
2 |
2 |
AUSTRALIA |
Child FTA |
324 |
1,065 |
AUSTRALIA |
Child Renewal |
222 |
|
AUSTRALIA |
Adult FTA |
420 |
|
AUSTRALIA |
Adult Renewal |
99 |
|
AUSTRIA |
Child FTA |
7 |
23 |
AUSTRIA |
Child Renewal |
7 |
|
AUSTRIA |
Adult FTA |
6 |
|
AUSTRIA |
Adult Renewal |
3 |
|
BAHRAIN |
Child Renewal |
8 |
8 |
BARBADOS |
Child Renewal |
1 |
1 |
BELGIUM |
Child Renewal |
22 |
51 |
BELGIUM |
Child FTA |
12 |
|
BELGIUM |
Adult FTA |
17 |
|
BERMUDA |
Child Renewal |
6 |
6 |
BOTSWANA |
Child Renewal |
3 |
4 |
BOTSWANA |
Adult FTA |
1 |
|
BRAZIL |
Child Renewal |
1 |
1 |
BULGARIA |
Adult FTA |
2 |
3 |
BULGARIA |
Child FTA |
1 |
|
CANADA |
Adult FTA |
274 |
455 |
CANADA |
Adult Renewal |
18 |
|
CANADA |
Child FTA |
108 |
|
CANADA |
Child Renewal |
55 |
|
CANARY ISLANDS |
Child Renewal |
3 |
12 |
CANARY ISLANDS |
Child Renewal |
2 |
|
CANARY ISLANDS |
Adult FTA |
1 |
|
CAYMAN ISLANDS |
Child Renewal |
6 |
|
CHILE |
Adult FTA |
1 |
1 |
CHINA |
Child Renewal |
11 |
11 |
COLOMBIA |
Adult Renewal |
2 |
4 |
COLOMBIA |
Adult FTA |
1 |
|
COLOMBIA |
Child Renewal |
1 |
|
CROATIA |
Child FTA |
1 |
1 |
CYPRUS |
Adult FTA |
10 |
15 |
CYPRUS |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
CYPRUS |
Child FTA |
2 |
|
CYPRUS |
Child Renewal |
2 |
|
CZECH REPUBLIC |
Child FTA |
4 |
12 |
CZECH REPUBLIC |
Child Renewal |
4 |
|
CZECH REPUBLIC |
Adult FTA |
3 |
|
CZECH REPUBLIC |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
DENMARK |
Adult FTA |
11 |
20 |
DENMARK |
Child FTA |
7 |
|
DENMARK |
Child Renewal |
2 |
|
DOMINICA |
Child Renewal |
1 |
1 |
EGYPT |
Child Renewal |
3 |
3 |
ESTONIA |
Child Renewal |
2 |
2 |
FINLAND |
Adult FTA |
5 |
10 |
FINLAND |
Child Renewal |
3 |
|
FINLAND |
Child FTA |
2 |
|
FRANCE |
Adult FTA |
114 |
236 |
FRANCE |
Adult Renewal |
10 |
|
FRANCE |
Child Renewal |
63 |
|
FRANCE |
Child FTA |
49 |
|
GERMANY |
Child Renewal |
43 |
131 |
GERMANY |
Child FTA |
23 |
|
GERMANY |
Adult FTA |
54 |
|
GERMANY |
Adult Renewal |
11 |
|
GHANA |
Child Renewal |
2 |
2 |
GIBRALTAR |
Adult FTA |
3 |
8 |
GIBRALTAR |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
GIBRALTAR |
Child FTA |
4 |
|
GREECE |
Adult FTA |
6 |
8 |
GREECE |
Child FTA |
1 |
|
GREECE |
Child Renewal |
1 |
|
GUERNSEY |
Adult FTA |
7 |
9 |
GUERNSEY |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
GUERNSEY |
Child FTA |
1 |
|
HONG KONG |
Child Renewal |
11 |
16 |
HONG KONG |
Adult Renewal |
5 |
|
HUNGARY |
Child Renewal |
3 |
6 |
HUNGARY |
Child FTA |
1 |
|
HUNGARY |
Adult FTA |
1 |
|
HUNGARY |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
ICELAND |
Adult FTA |
3 |
4 |
ICELAND |
Child FTA |
1 |
|
INDIA |
Child Renewal |
3 |
3 |
INDONESIA |
Child Renewal |
4 |
4 |
ISLE OF MAN |
Adult FTA |
16 |
23 |
ISLE OF MAN |
Adult FTA |
7 |
|
ISRAEL |
Child Renewal |
4 |
5 |
ISRAEL |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
ITALY |
Adult FTA |
16 |
32 |
ITALY |
Adult Renewal |
2 |
|
ITALY |
Child FTA |
9 |
|
ITALY |
Child Renewal |
5 |
|
JAPAN |
Adult FTA |
1 |
1 |
JORDAN |
Child Renewal |
4 |
4 |
KENYA |
Adult Renewal |
3 |
5 |
KENYA |
Child Renewal |
2 |
|
KUWAIT |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
2 |
KUWAIT |
Child Renewal |
1 |
|
KYRGYZSTAN |
Child Renewal |
1 |
1 |
LATVIA |
Child Renewal |
3 |
4 |
LATVIA |
Adult FTA |
1 |
|
LEBANON |
Child Renewal |
2 |
2 |
LITHUANIA |
Child Renewal |
6 |
9 |
LITHUANIA |
Child FTA |
2 |
|
LITHUANIA |
Adult FTA |
1 |
|
LUXEMBOURG |
Child Renewal |
6 |
12 |
LUXEMBOURG |
Child FTA |
3 |
|
LUXEMBOURG |
Adult FTA |
2 |
|
LUXEMBOURG |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
MACEDONIA |
Child Renewal |
1 |
1 |
MALAWI |
Renewal |
1 |
1 |
MALAYSIA |
Child Renewal |
2 |
2 |
MALTA |
Child FTA |
2 |
6 |
MALTA |
Child Renewal |
2 |
|
MALTA |
Adult FTA |
2 |
|
MEXICO |
Child FTA |
1 |
2 |
MEXICO |
Child Renewal |
1 |
|
MONGOLIA |
Child Renewal |
1 |
1 |
NAMIBIA |
Child Renewal |
3 |
3 |
NETHERLANDS |
Child Renewal |
30 |
91 |
NETHERLANDS |
Child FTA |
21 |
|
NETHERLANDS |
Adult FTA |
33 |
|
NETHERLANDS |
Adult Renewal |
7 |
|
NEW ZEALAND |
Adult FTA |
98 |
160 |
NEW ZEALAND |
Adult Renewal |
11 |
|
NEW ZEALAND |
Child FTA |
34 |
|
NEW ZEALAND |
Child Renewal |
17 |
|
NICARAGUA |
Child Renewal |
2 |
2 |
NIGERIA |
Child Renewal |
9 |
12 |
NIGERIA |
Adult Renewal |
2 |
|
NIGERIA |
Adult FTA |
1 |
|
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS |
Adult FTA |
1 |
1 |
NORWAY |
Adult FTA |
13 |
19 |
NORWAY |
Adult Renewal |
2 |
|
NORWAY |
Child FTA |
2 |
|
NORWAY |
Child Renewal |
2 |
|
OMAN |
Child Renewal |
1 |
1 |
PAKISTAN |
Child Renewal |
4 |
8 |
PAKISTAN |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
PANAMA |
Child FTA |
2 |
|
PANAMA |
Child Renewal |
1 |
|
PERU |
Child FTA |
1 |
2 |
PERU |
Child Renewal |
1 |
|
PHILIPPINES |
Child Renewal |
4 |
4 |
POLAND |
Child Renewal |
27 |
35 |
POLAND |
Child FTA |
5 |
|
POLAND |
Adult FTA |
2 |
|
POLAND |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
PORTUGAL |
Adult FTA |
12 |
26 |
PORTUGAL |
Adult Renewal |
3 |
|
PORTUGAL |
Child Renewal |
6 |
|
PORTUGAL |
Child FTA |
5 |
|
PUERTO RICO |
Child Renewal |
1 |
1 |
QATAR |
Child Renewal |
5 |
6 |
QATAR |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
ROMANIA |
Child Renewal |
7 |
12 |
ROMANIA |
Child FTA |
1 |
|
ROMANIA |
Adult FTA |
3 |
|
ROMANIA |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
RUSSIA |
Child Renewal |
4 |
6 |
RUSSIA |
Adult FTA |
1 |
|
RUSSIA |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
SAUDI ARABIA |
Child Renewal |
14 |
16 |
SAUDI ARABIA |
Adult Renewal |
2 |
|
SINGAPORE |
Child Renewal |
14 |
17 |
SINGAPORE |
Child FTA |
3 |
|
SLOVAK REPUBLIC |
Child Renewal |
3 |
4 |
SLOVAK REPUBLIC |
Adult FTA |
1 |
|
SLOVENIA |
Adult FTA |
1 |
1 |
SOMALIA |
Child FTA |
1 |
1 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
Child Renewal |
42 |
63 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
Adult Renewal |
21 |
|
SOUTH KOREA REPUBLIC OF KOREA |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
1 |
SPAIN |
Adult FTA |
87 |
174 |
SPAIN |
Adult Renewal |
14 |
|
SPAIN |
Child Renewal |
38 |
|
SPAIN |
Child FTA |
35 |
|
SWEDEN |
Child FTA |
14 |
28 |
SWEDEN |
Child Renewal |
2 |
|
SWEDEN |
Adult FTA |
11 |
|
SWEDEN |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
SWITZERLAND |
Adult FTA |
37 |
91 |
SWITZERLAND |
Adult Renewal |
10 |
|
SWITZERLAND |
Child Renewal |
23 |
|
SWITZERLAND |
Child FTA |
21 |
|
SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC |
Child Renewal |
2 |
2 |
TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
1 |
THAILAND |
Child Renewal |
6 |
6 |
TOGO |
Adult FTA |
1 |
1 |
TURKEY |
Adult FTA |
2 |
6 |
TURKEY |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
TURKEY |
Child Renewal |
3 |
|
UKRAINE |
Adult FTA |
1 |
1 |
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
Child Renewal |
25 |
36 |
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
Child FTA |
1 |
|
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
Adult Renewal |
6 |
|
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
Adult FTA |
4 |
|
UNITED KINGDOM |
Adult FTA |
6,646 |
9,471 |
UNITED KINGDOM |
Adult Renewal |
447 |
|
UNITED KINGDOM |
Child FTA |
1,537 |
|
UNITED KINGDOM |
Child Renewal |
841 |
|
UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA |
Child Renewal |
3 |
4 |
UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA |
Adult Renewal |
1 |
|
UNITED STATES |
Adult FTA |
1,360 |
2,081 |
UNITED STATES |
Adult Renewal |
119 |
|
UNITED STATES |
Child FTA |
358 |
|
UNITED STATES |
Child Renewal |
244 |
|
VIETNAM |
Child FTA |
1 |
2 |
VIETNAM |
Child Renewal |
1 |
|
ZIMBABWE |
Adult Renewal |
2 |
5 |
ZIMBABWE |
Adult FTA |
1 |
|
ZIMBABWE |
Child Renewal |
2 |
|
14,655 |
366. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a schedule of the time backlog on all accepted first-time passport applications made in Ireland; and the additional resources he has and will provide to clear these backlogs. [6181/22]
View answer367. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a schedule of the time backlog on all accepted passport renewal applications made in Ireland by post; and the additional resources he has and will provide to clear these backlogs. [6182/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 367 together.
The tables below outline the numbers of first time and renewal applications on hand with the Passport Service. Table 1 details the number of complete and incomplete online and postal first time applications that are with the Passport Service. Table 2 details the number of postal or Passport Express renewal applications. Both tables outline how many applications are complete and being processed by the Passport Service and how many are incomplete and require additional action by the applicant. This may include the submission of witnessed child identity and consent forms or documents such as birth certificates. These applications cannot be processed by the Passport Service until the required documents are received.
While there is a very high volume of applications in the system, this does not represent a backlog. In January the Passport Service received over 137,000 applications. Figures show that there are currently 76,000 (53%) applications that are fully complete and are being processed by the Passport Service. There are also 67,000 applications (47%) in the system which the Passport Service is waiting for the customer to complete the application.
The current passport processing times are:
- 10 working days for Simple Adult online renewals
- 15 working days for Complex or child online renewals
- 40 working days for First Time Applications on Passport Online
- 8 weeks for An Post’s mail-in “Passport Express” service
The Passport Service is facing its busiest year to date with an estimated 1.7 million passport applications expected. This volume of passport applications represents a significant increase from the previous high number of applications in 2019 when 935,000 passports were issued. My Department has been pro-actively planning to ensure the necessary resources are in place to meet this level of demand and is making an unprecedented investment in the Passport Service in terms of additional staff and improvements to the passport processing and customer service systems.
My Department is working with the Public Appointments Service on a major recruitment drive that has been underway for several months. Since June of 2021, over 300 members of staff at all grades have been assigned to the Passport Service. Additional staff are being assigned on a weekly basis with a goal of reaching staff numbers of 900 by the end of March. This represents a doubling of staff numbers over the course of 9 months.
The Passport Service is implementing a number of further measures that will positively impact the current turnaround times and improve customer service:
- Intensive training of new staff and upskilling of existing staff is underway to increase the resources that can process complex applications.
- The Passport Service is actively prioritising first time applications and directing increased resources to processing these complex applications with a view to reducing the current turnaround time.
- A new document management process is being put in place that allows for a much quicker turnaround time when an applicant is asked to submit additional documents. Once these documents are received, they will be prioritised and complete applications will be processed in 3 weeks. This will greatly reduce the waiting time for applicants who are missing documents in their initial application.
In the context of the National Development Plan, my Department is making a major investment in the future of the Passport Service. Over the next couple of years, we will replace the core technology underpinning the service, which will deliver efficiencies and a more resilient passport system. Budget 2022 also included an investment of an additional €10m in passport services in response to the increasing demand for passports both at home and abroad.
We are confident that the measures that have been implemented will help to reduce passport turnaround times in the course of 2022, particularly for first time applications, and will assist the Passport Service in meeting the high demand forecast for this year.
Table 1 - Domestic first time applications
Application Type |
Online |
Passport Express |
Total Domestic First time applications |
34,946 |
9,161 |
Incomplete domestic first time applications |
16,431 |
2,673 |
Complete domestic first time applications |
18,515 |
6,488 |
Table 2 - Domestic postal renewal (Passport Express) applications
Application Type |
Number of applications |
Complete Passport Express renewal applications |
6,209 |
Incomplete Passport Express renewal applications |
1,320 |
369. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department has procured new buildings to house the new Irish Consulate General Offices in Lyon, Miami and Toronto. [6222/22]
View answerThe decision to open new Consulates General in Lyon, Miami and Toronto was taken as part of the Government's Global Ireland initiative to double the scope and impact of Ireland’s global footprint to 2025. The Consulates General are scheduled to open in late 2022. No Consulate premises or official accommodation have been procured to date. Such procurement will commence later this year and will be conducted in line with public procurement obligations.