Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 September 2021
80. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the content of the planned passport reform programme of his Department; the timeline of the planned roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45406/21]
View answerThere has been an ongoing process of reform within the Passport Service since 2016. The programme has delivered a number of high profile and successful Improvements for citizens at home and abroad who rely on this service.
This includes the facility for online applications. In 2019, online applications accounted for 47% of all applications received. Despite the challenges currently facing the Passport Service, 40% of online adult renewals issued last week in 2 working days or less, and over 93% issued in less than 10 working days. Further enhancements over the past number of years means that Passport Online can now 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.
Recent reforms have also improved our fraud detection capacity, following the introduction of new facial recognition technology, which improves efficiency and the integrity of the passport system. Maintaining that integrity is essential to ensuring that the Irish passport is one of the most secure in the world, and one of the most effective, in terms of granting citizens visa-free access to most countries in the world.
The next major element of the reform programme will be to replace the core technology underpinning the Passport Service. The current system, the Automated Passport System or APS, was launched in 2004 and will be replaced by a more modern, integrated system. The procurement process for the new system will conclude very shortly and is expected to be operational in 2023.
The Passport Service continues to identify efficiencies in the service. We recently concluded arrangements that provides applicants with a MyGovID profile with the option to pre-populate information to their online application form details, saving further time.
The Passport Service, like many Government Services, have been impacted by COVID-19. Operations have been maintained notwithstanding the fact that the processing of passports requires physical attendance on site to deliver this service. As a result of well implemented safety protocols our staff were able to assist citizens who required passports for a range of emergency and urgent personal, business or legal reasons, or who had compelling humanitarian needs to travel. In line with our continued scaling up of services my Department are actively planning for the opening of our Public Offices for the processing of urgent applications for those renewing their passport. This service will resume initially in the public office of the Passport Service in Dublin and we will be making a public announcement on the specific date very soon.
