Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
139. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the waiting times for a first passport and a passport renewal; if extra resources will be provided to the passport office during this busy holiday period; and if new changes to streamline the passport application process will be implemented. [34885/18]
View answerThe average turnaround time for renewal applications submitted through Passport Express is currently on target at 15 working days. Other types of application submitted through Passport Express, such as first time applications or applications to replace lost, stolen or damaged passports take longer due to additional security checks. The average turnaround time for first time applications or applications to replace lost, stolen or damaged passports is currently 23 working days.
Eligible adults wishing to renew their passport can also do so through the Online Passport Application service. This is the most efficient and convenient way for an adult to renew a passport as it can be done online anywhere in the world, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and removes the requirement for forms, witnesses or printed photos. The target turnaround time for applications made via the online passport application service is 10 working days plus postage. Over 50% of the 130,000 applicants who have used this channel this year have had their application processed within a week.
The Passport Service is currently in its peak season for passport demand with the vast majority of applications being received between February and August each year. The Passport Service closely monitors the volume of applications on an ongoing basis to ensure that resources are available to meet demand. In order to respond to anticipated application increases and to seasonal demands, the Passport Service has recruited 214 Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs) so far this year. These TCOs are working together with permanent staff to process passport applications and to deal with the high number of enquiries being made through the Passport Service’s various customer service channels.
The number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff permanently employed by my Department and assigned to the Passport Service stood at 322 at the beginning of the year. This compares to 301 FTE staff assigned to the Passport Service at the same point last year. This year, since these figures were released, over 30 additional permanent staff have started with the Passport Service.
The Passport Service is doing everything possible to ensure that passports are processed as quickly as possible. In addition to the intake of TCOs and use of targeted overtime, experienced staff from across the Department have been re-deployed to processing applications and respond to customer queries.
The continuous implementation of service improvements has been central to my Department’s response to increasing application volumes. The Passport Reform Programme is delivering major upgrades to the passport service technology platforms and business processes as well as significant customer service improvements. The online passport application service will continue to make a major contribution to the effective management of high application volumes by allowing existing resources to be more effectively deployed within the Passport Service. The online service currently accommodates adult renewals and passport card applications and it is planned to further extend this service to child renewals by the end of 2018.
