Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2022
399. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the online portal that will allow queries for all application types to be submitted directly to the passport service by Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17418/22]
View answerThe Passport Service is developing an online portal that will allow Oireachtas Members to query the status of passport applications on behalf of their constituents.
The testing element of this project is yet to be completed. Once the online portal is finalised, the Passport Service expects to roll it out over the summer of this year.
In the meantime, Members of the Oireachtas can avail of the temporary phone line that was established in October 2021 to respond to Members' queries on urgent passport cases.
In each case raised by an Oireachtas Member, the Passport Service reviews the application in question. However, applications can only be expedited in cases of genuine emergency such as a need for urgent medical treatment overseas or the death of a family member abroad. Such applications are expedited through the Travel Emergency service.
In cases where the estimated issue-by date has passed and the application is fully complete, the Passport Service will prioritise the application to ensure that no further delay is experienced.
Passport applicants can also track the status of their passport application online via the Passport Tracker which is available on my Department's website - www.dfa.ie/passporttracking/
