Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021
416. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passport applications received by the passport office on a monthly basis from January 2020 to August 2021, in tabular form; if the applications were online, through the post or through an embassy and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46560/21]
View answerThe number of passport applications received by the passport office on a monthly basis from January 2020 to August 2021, is set out in tabular form below.
|
2020 |
Applications from Overseas Mission |
Online Applications |
Paper Applications |
Total Monthly Applications |
|
January |
5,229 |
59,486 |
25,433 |
90,148 |
|
February |
5,155 |
50,651 |
25,340 |
81,146 |
|
March |
3,622 |
27,595 |
15,662 |
46,879 |
|
April |
56 |
11,334 |
3 |
11,393 |
|
May |
538 |
12,782 |
119 |
13,439 |
|
June |
1,334 |
32,505 |
1,682 |
35,521 |
|
July |
1,764 |
29,490 |
1,227 |
32,481 |
|
August |
1,339 |
21,548 |
3,843 |
26,730 |
|
September |
1,417 |
21,474 |
4,420 |
27,311 |
|
October |
846 |
18,537 |
3,009 |
22,392 |
|
November |
134 |
16,071 |
38 |
16,243 |
|
December |
1,671 |
20,751 |
1,473 |
23,895 |
|
2021 |
||||
|
January |
40 |
24,943 |
25 |
25,008 |
|
February |
35 |
20,577 |
203 |
20,815 |
|
March |
135 |
30,671 |
446 |
31,252 |
|
April |
257 |
36,594 |
489 |
37,340 |
|
May |
764 |
68,227 |
211 |
69,202 |
|
June |
1,786 |
64,605 |
304 |
66,695 |
|
July |
731 |
67,117 |
3,066 |
70,914 |
|
August |
419 |
74,768 |
6,904 |
82,091 |
|
Total |
27,272 |
709,726 |
93,897 |
830,895 |
Since 2016, there has been an ongoing process of reform within the Passport Service, that 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. The Online Service was enhanced at the end of 2019 to facilitate first time applicants, both children and adults, in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain and Europe. This has been further expanded this year to facilitate first time applicants in 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.
