Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2021
373. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied); the reason this passport application has not been processed within the date indicated on the Department website; the reason for the inordinate delay in processing this passport application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54147/21]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service cannot process an application until the required supporting documents have been received. The Passport Service has provided an update to the applicant's parent as to the steps they must take to progress the passport application.
The Passport Service is currently experiencing a high demand for first time passports. These first time applications are complex to process. The Passport Service must validate the true identity of the applicant and take measures to confirm the applicant’s entitlement to Irish citizenship, which they are claiming for the first time. Vetting identity and citizenship is fundamentally important to protecting the integrity of the Irish passport. In the case of first time passport applications for children, the consent of guardians must be thoroughly validated.
Of the complete applications that are with the Passport Service for processing, approximately 8% are past the estimated issue-by date. These applications are currently being prioritised by the Passport Service who are working very hard to eliminate these delays. Applications can take longer than the average turnaround time if applicants have not provided all of the required documentation to correctly complete their application. The Passport Service engages with all applicants who have not submitted the required documentation to ensure that their application is completed correctly and can proceed through the processing system.
