Wednesday, 25 May 2022

Housing Provision

Questions (51)

Robert Troy

Question:

51. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person who has recently gone through a legal separation can qualify for a local authority home loan in order to purchase a remaining percentage of the family home from their former spouse. [26901/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.

A ‘Fresh Start’ principle applies for applications to the Local Authority Home Loan.

The following categories of persons are eligible to apply for the Local Authority Home Loan under the Fresh Start principle:

- Applicant(s) that previously purchased or built a residential property, but is divorced/separated or otherwise and has left the property and divested themselves of their interest in the property are eligible.

In cases of divorce/separation, the applicant must meet all the following criteria;

- Be separated/legally separated/divorced (i.e., their marriage or civil partnership or partnership has been legally or otherwise dissolved) under a Court Order or by a separation agreement, and

- have left the family home and retained no interest in it; and

- the property under the Local Authority Home Loan is the first residential property purchased since leaving the family home.

In recognition of such instances, an exemption to the First Time Buyer eligibility criteria can be applied under the Fresh Start Principle. However, this is for a fresh start applicant who has divested themselves of the family home to enable them to purchase a new home only. It is not available to purchase a remaining percentage of the family home from a former spouse.

The final decision regarding the Local Authority Home Loan application is made by the relevant Local Authority Credit Committee on a case by case basis.

Further details can be found on localauthorityhomeloan.ie/

Passport Services

Questions (52)

Thomas Gould

Question:

52. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passport applications that were delayed due to the fact that consent forms could not be verified with the relevant Garda station by month since January 2022, in tabular form. [26611/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

There are certain passport applications for applicants resident in Ireland that require forms to be witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána. These applications include:

- All Passport Express applications - Section 9 Certificate of Identity

- First time adult online applications - Identity Verification Form

- First time child online applications - Child Passport Identity and Consent Form (Guardian A)

The witnessing of these forms is a vital element of the identity verification process for the Passport Service, as it provides initial assurance that the person in the photograph is the same person presenting to submit the passport application form.

In the case of an application for a minor the witnessing of this form provides evidence that guardians give consent for a passport to be issued to the child. In order to protect the integrity of the Irish passport and also the rights of parents or guardians and children, it is important that forms are correctly completed and verified by the Passport Service by calling the Garda station to confirm the Garda's signature.

It is stated in a note to the witness on the identity and consent forms that they may be contacted to confirm the validity of their signature. It is the responsibility of the witnessing Garda to ensure that the signature is correctly recorded in the logbook, so that when the Passport Service calls at a later date the signature can be verified.

There are a small number of cases where the Passport Service has had difficulty contacting a Garda station in order to verify the Garda's signature. While the Passport Service makes every effort to contact the Garda station in these cases, unfortunately the passport application may be delayed if contact is not made. In some cases, the applicant may be requested to submit a new witnessed form where the Passport Service has been unable to contact the Garda station. The Passport Service will only request a new witness form after multiple attempts have been made to contact the Garda station.

A new document management system that was put in place at the beginning of March is ensuring that these applications which require further documents are being turned around within 15 working days of receipt of the additional documents.

It is not possible to provide the numbers requested by the Deputy in relation to passport applications that were delayed due to difficulty verifying consent forms with members of An Garda Síochána, as the Passport Service does not record this information. However, it is not the experience of the Passport Service that failure to contact Garda stations to verify witnesses is a widespread issue.

The Passport Service is continuously looking at ways to make the application process easier for applicants and advises during the online application process to make sure that the identity and consent form is correctly witnessed once they have completed the online process.

The Passport Service provides instructions on how to correctly complete these forms on the Department's website (www.dfa.ie/passports/how-to-get-your-application-witnessed/) and is also working on public education materials, including video tutorials, with a view to assisting applicants to complete their application correctly.

In addition to this, the Passport Service maintains a close working relationship with An Garda Síochána and regularly offers training and guidance to Gardaí on the correct completion of the required identity and consent forms.

The Passport Service is publishing a full-page informational advertisement in the June edition of An Garda Síochána’s magazine, the Garda Review, to assist Gardaí with the process of witnessing passport identity and consent forms. This advertisement includes the information that the Passport Service will ring the Garda station to verify all first time passport applicants’ consent and identity form details.

The Passport Service takes its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport very seriously. The Irish passport has a strong international reputation due to the strength of the security features within the passport book and the robust processes involved in its issuance. The Irish passport was recently ranked 5th in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 187 countries.

Passport Services

Questions (53, 55, 59, 60, 64, 67, 80, 85)

James Lawless

Question:

53. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will examine and expedite a passport application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26621/22]

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Éamon Ó Cuív

85. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when passports will issue to two siblings (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that these applications were received in the Passport Office on 3 February 2022. [26854/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 55, 59, 60, 64, 67, 80 and 85 together.

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

Passport Services

Questions (54, 56, 58, 62, 63, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 78, 81, 84, 86, 87)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

54. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied) which was due to be issued on 21 April 2022. [26645/22]

View answer

Steven Matthews

Question:

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 56, 58, 62, 63, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 78, 81, 84, 86 and 87 together.

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant or their guardian.

Question No. 55 answered with Question No. 53.

Question No. 56 answered with Question No. 54.

Human Rights

Questions (57)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

57. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which Ireland has used its position on the United Nations Security Council to raise the situation of Palestinian residents in east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah and the ongoing violations of human rights by the Israeli authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26725/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I remain concerned by demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem, including in Sheikh Jarrah, where tensions remain high.

I am deeply troubled by the evictions and demolitions that took place in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood on 17-18 January of this year. Ireland’s Representative was present at the scene in Sheikh Jarrah on 17 January and the Ambassador in Tel Aviv communicated our concerns directly to the Israeli authorities.

Ireland has been proactive in ensuring that these issues are highlighted at the UN Security Council, raising Sheikh Jarrah in meetings of the Council in January, February and March of this year. Ireland has made it clear that demolitions and evictions undermine the prospects for peace and risk increasing violence, and called on Israel to cease these unilateral actions and comply with its obligations as an occupying power under international humanitarian law.

Ireland engages actively on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory at the UN and through support on the ground in working with civil society partners.

At the most recent session of the Human Rights Council in March, Ireland reiterated our concern regarding the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland highlighted in particular the intensification of settler-related violence, the use of excessive force by Israeli Security Forces, and the shrinking space for civil society in both Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.

Ireland also provides humanitarian assistance, legal and other supports to specific development projects to improve the situation of Palestinians. We fund a number of civil society partners that are active on human rights issues, which impact specifically on Palestinians in East Jerusalem, including in relation to evictions.

Question No. 58 answered with Question No. 54.

Question No. 59 answered with Question No. 53.

Question No. 60 answered with Question No. 53.

Passport Services

Questions (61)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

61. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will complete an investigation into the way that first-time passport applications are screened for processing in view of the recent long delays; if he will ensure that the applicants will be notified within seven days of submitting the initial application if there is an issue with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26747/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Passport Service has recently reduced the turnaround time for first time applications from 40 working days to 30 working days. This 25% reduction in processing times for first time applications is a direct result of the staffing and resources the Department has invested in the Passport Service. The Passport Service is focused on reducing this processing time further in the coming months.

The current processing times for passport applications are:

- 10 working days for Simple Adult online renewals

- 15 working days for Complex or child online renewals

- 30 working days for First Time Applications on Passport Online (applications received from 19 April)

- 8 weeks for An Post’s mail-in “Passport Express” service

Fully complete and correct online applications are issuing within the estimated processing time. Processing time begins from the date any required supporting documents are received by the Passport Service, not the online registration date. Applications that are incomplete and require the Passport Service to contact the applicant to request new documents, forms or photos will take longer than the average turnaround time.

Figures show that of the total number of applications in the Passport Service system, 61% are fully complete and are being processed by the Passport Service. The other 39% of applications in the system are incomplete, which means the Passport Service is waiting for the applicant to submit the necessary documentation required. While the Passport Service makes every effort to contact applicants in such circumstances, their experience is that many applicants take weeks and sometimes months to send in the necessary documents.

The Passport Service is currently experiencing high demand for first time passports, particularly for children. First time passport applications take longer to process than renewal applications and there are a number of reasons for this. First time applications are necessarily complex to process, since, in many cases, they are applications for Irish citizenship. The Passport Service must validate the identity of the applicant and take measures to confirm the applicant’s entitlement to Irish citizenship. It is the statutory responsibility of the Passport Service to protect the integrity of the Irish passport. Accordingly, a rigorous analysis process is in place to verify the identity and citizenship status of first time applicants.

In the case of first time passport applications for children, the consent of guardians must also be thoroughly validated. Due to the intensive analysis and extra measures undertaken by highly trained and experienced staff, first-time applications take 30 working days to process. It is currently not possible for the Passport Service to check first time applications within seven working days of receiving the supporting documents due to the volume of applications that are being received. Applications enter a queue and are checked in order of date received.

The main cause of delays for first time applications is where incorrect or insufficient supporting documentation is submitted by the applicant. The Passport Service encourages applicants to check the requirements for their type of application carefully on my Department's website. The recently updated website includes a new Passport Service section where applicants can easily find out what additional documents are required for their type of application. The Passport Service is also working on public education materials, including video tutorials, with a view to assisting applicants to complete their application correctly. These videos will be shared on social media and will include instructions on submitting consent forms for child applications properly.

The Passport Service is taking a number of steps to deal with increased demand on its services:

- The Passport Service has a comprehensive plan to ensure that adequate staff, accommodation and technology supports are in place to meet expected demand for passports in 2022.

- A major recruitment drive has been underway over the past several months, which has seen the number of Passport Service staff increase by over 300 since June 2021.

- The Passport Service is currently running its own recruitment competition for Temporary Clerical Officers. This recruitment effort will bring staffing numbers to over 900, which represents a doubling of staff compared to June 2021.

- Intensive training of new staff and upskilling of existing staff is ongoing to increase the resources that can process complex applications, such as first time child applications.

- The Passport Service is prioritising first time applications and directing increased resources to processing these complex applications with a view to reducing the current turnaround time. Passport Service staff are working targeted overtime with a particular focus on first time applications.

- A new document management system was put in place at the beginning of March. This aims to improve the processing speed in the Passport Service offices, and subsequent turnaround times for the applicant. One particular feature of the new system improves the processing time for applicants who have been asked to submit additional documents. Once the additional documents are received, they are being prioritised and complete applications can then be processed in 3 weeks. This significantly reduces the processing time, particularly for first time applicants.

I am confident that the measures that have been implemented will help to reduce passport turnaround times in the course of 2022, particularly for first time applications, and will assist the Passport Service in meeting the high demand forecast for this year.

I strongly urge anyone who is considering travelling overseas this year, particularly families with young children, to check the validity of their passports before booking travel and to apply for their passports online in plenty of time .

Question No. 62 answered with Question No. 54.

Question No. 63 answered with Question No. 54.

Question No. 64 answered with Question No. 53.

Question No. 65 answered with Question No. 54.

Question No. 66 answered with Question No. 54.

Question No. 67 answered with Question No. 53.

Question No. 68 answered with Question No. 54.

Question No. 69 answered with Question No. 54.

Question No. 70 answered with Question No. 54.