I would like to assure the Deputy that both the Minister and myself are personally concerned that the best possible service should be given to members of the public when applying for passports.
The Passport Office process approximately 180,000 passport applications each year. On average, 30 per cent of these are issued during May and June. 60 per cent of all applications are normally submitted and delivered through the postal system. As a result of the postal dispute, the vast majority of recent applications were submitted and collected in person, adding greatly to the usual seasonal pressures on the office. A variety of measures, including recruitment of additional staff and weekend opening, were implemented to try to relieve the situation.
The situation has improved significantly following the ending of the postal dispute and arrears which built up during the dispute are now being cleared. However, there are still larger than normal numbers for this time of the year attending the Passport Office. This is due, in part, to the fact that some passport applications which were deferred due to the postal dispute now require to be processed urgently. Every effort is being made to deal with these applications as quickly as possible.