Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 May 2024
86. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to set out the average waiting time for the issuing of new passports; for the renewal of passports; the issuing of passports to newborn children; the number of staff currently working in the passport office; if he believes that there will be an increase in wait times as we approach the summer season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20910/24]
View answer112. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on passport applications and processing times presently; how many applications were processed so far this year; how many are outstanding and currently in waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20617/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 112 together.
The Passport Service has issued 450,000 passports to date this year. Virtually all complete passport applications are being processed within or ahead of advertised turnaround times and the majority of online adult renewal applications are processed within two working days.
There are currently 156,000 passport applications in the system. However, 43% of these applications are pending further action by the applicant. The number of applications in the system varies on a daily basis as applications are received by the Passport Service and passports are dispatched to citizens.
Passport turnaround times are:
• 10 working days for simple adult online renewals
• 15 working days for complex or child online renewals
• 20 working days for first time online applications
• 8 weeks for Post Passport (paper) applications
It is important to note that processing times do not begin when the applicant applies online. Processing time is calculated once the Passport Service receives any supporting documents that are required to complete the application.
My Department ran an extensive communications campaign last winter to encourage passport applicants to apply early and to apply online. This campaign was very successful in increasing the numbers of applications received early in the year which will help to ensure that those citizens who need to renew their passport this year or apply for a passport for a child will have their passports well before the traditional holiday season peak.
The Passport Service is well staffed, with a total of 830 staff currently, and is in an excellent position to deliver the demand forecast, even with the busy summer season approaching.
In situations where applicants have booked travel and need their passport renewed urgently, the public offices of the Passport Service in Dublin 2 and in Cork operate a four-day Urgent Appointment service for renewal applicants. The Dublin office also offers a one-day Urgent Appointment service. Information on Urgent Appointments is available at www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/urgent-appointment
Applicants who have already submitted a passport application and find themselves needing their passport more urgently, can book an urgent appointment in order to renew their passport at the public offices in Dublin or Cork. Once their new passport has been issued, the original application will be cancelled and the fee refunded.
We encourage everyone to apply online through the Passport Online service which offers citizens the ability to apply for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is a user-friendly, efficient service that consistently offers processing times over 4 times faster than paper-based passport adult renewal applications. The online service is now available to 99.9% of all applicants around the world, including babies, children and first time applicants.
The Passport Service remains committed to offering a range of application channels, including a paper-based service for citizens who are not eligible or do not wish to use the Passport Online service. Paper applications, by their nature, will always be a slower process. Therefore, the turnaround time for all paper applications is 8 weeks. Passport Service figures show that only 5% of applicants now use the Post Passport channel.
If there are documents missing from an application, the Passport Service will request these from the applicant. Once the additional documents are received and the application is completed correctly, the turnaround time for approving the application is 15 days.
Applicants can track their passport application using their application number on the online Passport Tracker which is available at www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/tracking
Should assistance be required with an application, our Customer Service agents are available through phone and webchat services from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. They can be contacted at +353 1 671 1633, or via the WebChat service: www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/contact-us/#webchat.
