I have taken a number of steps which I am confident will help to avoid the delays experienced by passport applicants in recent years. To put the situation in context, I would point out that within the past few years there has been a huge volume increase in passport applications, a total of 213,000 in 1994, representing a 32 per cent increase on 1991. Demand so far this year is 4 per cent ahead of last year. Measures taken to respond to this increased demand include a reduced fee for low-season applications, staff increases, upgrading of computer and telephone systems, and the addition of a new waiting area in the Dublin office.