Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 April 2019
96. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a third passport processing facility is to be opened in Dublin at Tallaght and-or a second passport processing facility in Cork to add to existing facilities at Mount Street, Dublin 2, Balbriggan, County Dublin, and South Mall in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15137/19]
View answerMy Department currently has passport processing facilities in Dublin, Ballbriggan and Cork. The Department operates two public offices in Dublin and in Cork. Work is ongoing with the Office of Public Works to expand the existing facility in Balbriggan, in addition to improvements to the office accommodation in Cork.
The Department is currently working with the Office of Public Works to provide temporary back-office processing capacity for the Passport Office in Tallaght as part of the Brexit contingency response.
The facility in Tallaght is currently leased to the State and will be ready in the coming weeks for temporary occupation. The facility allows for a cost-effective temporary solution be available to the Department without the additional costs of taking new space. The Department is taking this space until the extended facility in Balbriggan is ready.
