asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the total receipts from passports, visas and consular services for the year ending 31 December 1983.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Passport Office Receipts.
8.
The total receipts from passports, visas and consular services for the year ended 31 December 1983 was £3,461,343.
I appreciate that there is a lucrative return from the Passport Office to the Exchequer but does the Minister consider that the present staff, who provide an excellent service, should be increased so that the service could be streamlined as there have been complaints from the public?
I am surprised to hear the Deputy inferring that there have been complaints about the service the public receive from the Passport Office. If that is so the complaints have not reached my desk. I am always willing to listen to complaints and if the Deputy has such complaints, I should be glad to hear them and I will do something about them.
I appreciate what the Minister said but I am talking about delays in the office.
I am not aware that there are such delays. Occasionally there may be a traffic jam in the office in Molesworth Street at busy times of the year but, generally speaking, I understand that the service is efficient and speedy.
Would the Minister try to ensure that our passports are priced at the same level as other passports so that Irish citizens in Britain and the North are not encouraged, because of financial considerations, to make application for British passports? There is quite a difference between the price in the two countries.
There is an element of truth in what the Deputy says but he is not comparing like with like. For instance, a passport for a man, his wife and one or two children is much cheaper here than in England.
What about an individual passport?
The individual passport is dearer here but persons under 18 and over 65 can get an annual passport which costs only £3 and this is much cheaper than in England.
I am sure the Minister will agree that most passports are held by people between the ages of 18 and 65.
The Deputy is probably right but people in that age group will not be making use of their passport once, they will have it for ten years.
Would the Minister make inquiries to see if there has been a falling off in the number of applications for Irish passports from Irish people living in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom?
I do not know if we can break down figures in that way but I shall make inquiries.