Passport Applications Fees

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Questions (132)

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

132. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason it is €15 more expensive to have a passport application processed through the standard post system rather than Passport Express, particularly considering it can take between four and eight weeks to process the former as opposed to ten working days with the latter; the reason neither the passport application nor form notes display the fees for passport applications; his views on whether this leads to confusion for persons who do not have access to the internet or immediate direct contact with a person in the know to check the correct fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23716/13]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Passport fees are set by statutory instrument. The notes accompanying the passport application form outline the wide range of places that information on passport fees can be found. The fees are publicised on the Passport service website www.passport.ie and on the Passport Service telephone information line. Information regarding fees has also been issued to An Garda Síochána and displayed in the majority of Garda Stations. An Post, who operate the Passport Express Service used by over 70% of passport applicants at over 1000 post offices also provide passport fee information. Additionally public notices were published in national newspapers in 2011 at the time of introduction of the last fee change. The standard fee for an adult passport is €95 whether the applicant applies through the postal system or at the counter. To encourage the use of Passport Express, there is a reduced fee of €80 for an adult passport application through this service. Customers applying through passport express are given a commitment by the Passport Service that, where the application was properly completed, a passport will be issued within ten working days.