Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 September 2020
235. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if the processing time for a residency extension application and the return of passports will be shortened in order that persons are not without official forms of identification for long periods of time. [22729/20]
View answerSignificant demand accumulated during the four months that the Registration Office was closed due to COVID-19. To assist in addressing this demand, a new online system for the renewal of Registrations in the Dublin area was developed and launched on 20 July, enabling applicants to safely engage with the Registration Office without the need to attend in person at Burgh Quay.
My Department and I recognise the difficulties that delays may cause for applicants and we are also providing additional resources to the Registration Office to increase its capacity to handle current demand. My intention is to bring processing times down as quickly as possible.
If an applicant urgently needs their passport for travel or other such reasons, they should email the Registration Office at burghquayregoffice@justice.ie and set out the circumstances involved.
