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Passport Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Questions (617)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

617. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the online passport tracker for persons (details supplied) will update to more accurately reflect their true estimated issue date given that the current estimated date is October 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62979/21]

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Written answers

First time passport applications are necessarily complex to process, since they are essentially applications for Irish citizenship. The Passport Service must validate the true identity of the applicant and take measures to confirm the applicant’s entitlement to Irish citizenship.

Passport applications are valid for six months for a number of reasons including International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations on the requirement for a recent photograph. The ICAO is a UN specialised agency which defines in detail the required format for a passport. This timeframe also ensures that a refund of the fees can be processed electronically where required.

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, these applications were incomplete and cannot be processed to passport issue under the Passports Act 2008, as amended.  In light of this and given that the validity of the applications has expired, they been cancelled.  The Passport Service has been in direct contact with the applicants' parent to advise them of the situation and to arrange a refund of the passport fees.  In addition, a follow up letter has been issued by the Passport Service to the parents of these applicants to explain in detail the requirements for any future passport application for their children.

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