I propose to take Questions Nos. 804, 806, 815, 835, 836, 846, 847, 848, 849, 850, 852, 857 and 876 together.
The Passport Service commenced the scaling up of operations on 4 May 2021 in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”.
The Service has been focused since then on four priority areas.
- Clearing the COVID-19 backlog of 89,000 passport applications.
- Processing all adult renewal applications (including new applications) within 10 working days.
- Processing urgent and emergency applications.
- Providing customer services through our telephone and WebChat team.
Very substantial progress has been made in clearing the COVID-19 backlog: all backlog applications which were completed properly have been processed and related passports issued. As regards incomplete COVID-19 backlog applications, the Passport Service has been in contact with the applicants regarding the need to send in outstanding documents. Once all outstanding required documentation is received, issuance of passports will be expedited.
The Passport Service has issued approximately 375,000 passports to date in 2021.
The number of applications in the system currently stands at approximately 112,000 book and card applications. The applications can be split as incomplete applications standing at 50,000 (where the Passport Service is awaiting further documentation), with 62,000 applications with the Passport Service. These figures are accurate to 22 July 2021.
The approximate number of online applications per county under process currently in the system is set out in the table below.
County
|
Applications
|
ANTRIM
|
4,878
|
ARMAGH
|
1,036
|
CARLOW
|
495
|
CAVAN
|
592
|
CLARE
|
910
|
CORK
|
4,596
|
DERRY
|
1,495
|
DONEGAL
|
1,176
|
DOWN
|
3,322
|
DUBLIN
|
15,250
|
FERMANAGH
|
365
|
GALWAY
|
2,268
|
KERRY
|
1,122
|
KILDARE
|
2,393
|
KILKENNY
|
727
|
LAOIS
|
691
|
LEITRIM
|
234
|
LIMERICK
|
1,707
|
LONGFORD
|
365
|
LOUTH
|
1,294
|
MAYO
|
963
|
MEATH
|
2,058
|
MONAGHAN
|
419
|
OFFALY
|
549
|
ROSCOMMON
|
465
|
SLIGO
|
489
|
TIPPERARY
|
1,212
|
TYRONE
|
1,186
|
WATERFORD
|
955
|
WESTMEATH
|
685
|
WEXFORD
|
1,193
|
WICKLOW
|
1,432
|
These figures are correct to 22 July 2021.
The average possessing time or wait time for a new passport varies depending on a number of key factors including;
- The nature of the application - first time application or a renewal of existing.
- Whether a passport is for a minor or an adult.
- If the application is completed correctly and supported by all necessary documentation in the first instance.
- If the photograph supplied by the applicant met the criteria as described in detail on the application website.
The onus is on the applicant to provide documentation demonstrating their entitlement to an Irish passport. Birth Certificates which are issued by the General Register Office (GRO) must be submitted in support of a passport application to prove this entitlement. Neither Baptismal Certificates nor any other non-civil form of documentation can be considered in support of a first time passport application.
With regard to Passport Online applications, the average time currently for simple adult renewals is 10 working days; complex renewals, including children, is 15 working days and 40 working days for first time applicants.
Passport Express resumed processing on 19 July. The current estimated turnaround time for these applications is eight weeks.
Passport Online will continue to be the priority channel given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The processing of an online application is up to four times as fast as a paper application. In addition, the use of Passport Online can facilitate social distancing, given that a renewal application for an adult does not require the signature of a witness.
Passport Online can be accessed by first time applicants, both children and adults, in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. All Irish citizens, including children, can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world.
The Public Offices in Dublin and Cork are closed at the moment. This is to allow all of our staff work on processing passport applications. Customers should not attend our public offices as they will not be able to speak to a member of staff or submit documents.
In the event that any applicant has urgent or emergency reasons for requiring a passport, they should contact the Passport Service’s Customer Service Hub, by phone or WebChat, to make the Passport Service aware of their situation