Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:71. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26757/22]
View answerPassport Services
Questions (71)
Written answers
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service provided an update to the applicant's parent as to the status of the passport application on 16 May 2022. The Passport Service is within the standard turnaround time for this application.
Question No. 72 answered with Question No. 54.
Question No. 73 answered with Question No. 54.
Question No. 74 answered with Question No. 54.
Question No. 75 answered with Question No. 54.
Passport Services
Questions (76)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:76. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue with the correct name to a person (details supplied) in County Galway who was issued with a passport with the incorrect name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26779/22]
View answerWritten answers
With regard to the specific passport application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service regrets the error with this application. The Passport Service is in contact with the applicant and is working to resolve the issue.
Passport Services
Questions (77)
Pearse Doherty
Question:77. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) living in Australia; when the passport is expected to be delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26783/22]
View answerWritten answers
With regard to the specific passport application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service is investigating the case and is in direct contact with the applicant.
Question No. 78 answered with Question No. 54.
Passport Services
Questions (79)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:79. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a minor (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing said passport despite the fact that the application was lodged on 4 February 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26809/22]
View answerWritten answers
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update to the applicant's guardian as to the steps they must take to progress the passport application.
Question No. 80 answered with Question No. 53.
Question No. 81 answered with Question No. 54.
Passport Services
Questions (82)
Catherine Murphy
Question:82. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount expended on external consultancy to date in respect of the Passport Reform Programme; if he will provide a breakdown of costs by consultancy and external advice; the total amount expended on ICT advice and software associated with the Passport Reform Programme to date; and the totality of the approved expenditure for the Passport Reform Programme. [26826/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Passport Service Reform Programme was established in 2016 with the objective of delivering a citizen focused, efficient, consistent service while maintaining the integrity of the Irish passport. This process has delivered major upgrades to the Passport Service technology platforms and business processes as well as making significant customer service improvements to the Passport Service.
This programme is being continued to ensure the ongoing delivery and enhancement of service delivery to citizens worldwide. The programme is a major undertaking due to its scale, complexity, and the operational demand challenges that the Passport Service has dealt with over the last five years. From managing the significant post-Brexit increase in new passport demand from 2016 onwards, to navigating the extraordinary constraints and pressures brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme has delivered real change and positive outcomes for citizens.
One of the most visible deliverables of the Passport Reform Programme has been the Passport Online application service channel. This service has been transformative for the customer, delivering shorter turnaround times and lower rejection rates over the traditional paper based channels. Over 90% of all passport applications, including first time applications, are now being made through Passport Online.
These measures have ensured that the Passport Service can provide a more efficient service despite the unprecedented increase in the level of demand in passport applications since the inception of the Passport Reform Programme. Over 510,000 passports have been issued to date in 2022, compared to a total of 634,000 passports issued in 2021. 117,000 passports were issued in April alone, with 45% of adult renewal passports being issued within two working days. The processing times for these standard online passport applications compare very favourably to processing times internationally.
My Department’s Passport Reform Programme has not engaged consultancy services but, given the nature of the technology developed and deployed, has utilised specialist contractors and vendors to support the Department in the delivery of projects. The total expenditure on the Passport Reform Programme over the five years from 2016 to end-2021 is €13.4m. These costs include relevant support from external contractors to develop and enhance the software systems. This is broken down as follows:
|
Programme Management |
€830,882 |
|
Programme Development |
€1,135,154 |
|
Production System Upgrade and Enhancements |
€1,002,750 |
|
Passport Online |
€4,319,915 |
|
Passport Issuing and Processing System |
€2,052,925 |
|
Mailing Machines |
€1,263,382 |
|
Business Process Automation |
€66,592 |
|
FBR - Citizenship by Descent |
€173,401 |
|
Integrate MyGov ID into Online Service |
€449,967 |
|
Fraud Prevention Enhancements |
€1,412,090 |
|
Customer Service Refresh/CRM |
€717,037 |
|
Total |
€13,424,095 |
Over the next three years, the Passport Service will undertake its next major programme of reform, change and further enhancements. This will include the transformation of the technology that currently underpins passport operating systems - the back office systems that citizens don’t see but are essential to the operations of the Passport Service. These technological upgrades are essential to stabilise and support the transformational improvements for citizens at home and abroad that the rollout of the Passport Online Service has already delivered, as well as ensuring that the international integrity of the Irish passport is maintained.
Passport Services
Questions (83)
Catherine Murphy
Question:83. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will expedite a passport for a person (details supplied) in view of the fact the person concerned has missed multiple travel dates due to the non-issuing of the document in a timely manner; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the applicant has a travel date of 25 May 2022. [26831/22]
View answerWritten answers
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has reviewed the application and provided a status update to the applicant as appropriate.
Question No. 84 answered with Question No. 54.
Question No. 85 answered with Question No. 53.
Question No. 86 answered with Question No. 54.
Question No. 87 answered with Question No. 54.
Departmental Policies
Questions (88)
Sorca Clarke
Question:88. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the measures that his Department is taking to reduce this nation’s dependence on the UK to defend our sovereignty particularly now when we are celebrating a centenary of our independence from the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26921/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government and the Government decision in December 2020 which also agreed its terms of reference and membership. The report was published on the 9th February 2022.
The establishment of the Commission underpins the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the Defence Forces are fit for purpose, both in terms of meeting immediate requirements and also in terms of seeking to develop a longer term vision for beyond 2030.
The Commission undertook a significant body of work encompassing their wide-ranging terms of reference. The report contains 69 main recommendations with a large number of sub recommendations. The Commission's terms of reference included the consideration of appropriate capabilities, structures and staffing for the Army, the Air Corps, the Naval Service.
The report proposes significant changes for the Defence Forces, including to Defence Forces culture, high-level command and control structures, and for the level of Defence provision in Ireland. Clearly, there are matters that require careful consideration and in some critical aspects inter-departmental discussion. This includes the level of resourcing that may be allocated to Defence, legislative implications and the governance framework that will be required to underpin any changes the Government approve on foot of the Commission's report.
The report is being fully considered, in consultation with Ministerial colleagues and other stakeholders. The intent is that following relevant consideration, and before the summer recess, I will revert to Government with a proposed response to the Commission's recommendations and a high-level action plan. This high level plan will set out proposed timelines and oversight arrangements for its implementation.
Providing for the Defence of the State is a fundamental role of any Government and I firmly believe that this is an opportunity to have a mature debate around the type of defence provision that we require and I am very much open to such a discussion. Current events are highlighting the importance of such a debate.
State Examinations
Questions (89, 90, 91)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:89. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of running a leaving certificate helpline for the entire duration of the school year in conjunction with the National Parents’ Council. [26565/22]
View answerDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:90. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of running a leaving certificate helpline for the entire duration of the school year without any financial or staffing contribution from the National Parents’ Council. [26566/22]
View answerDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:91. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if he will provide information on the way that the leaving certificate helpline worked in 2021; the length of time it was available for; how was the workload of setting up and running the helpline split between his Department and the National Parents’ Council; the amount it cost in total; and the amount her Department contributed to this. [26567/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 90 and 91 together.
I propose to take PQs 26565/22, 26566/22 and 26567/22 together.
The NPCPP Leaving Cert Helpline is a national free phone service provided for all post primary final year students and their parents/guardians. This service offers professional and confidential one to one support, advice, and guidance on LC, LCA, LCVP, VTOS, QQI results, and CAO offers. The Helpline opens on the day the Leaving Cert results are issued and runs during the CAO first round offers.
The Helpline phones are staffed by a professional team of guidance counsellors and supports parents/guardians and students around the points system, accredited grades, rechecks, repeats, CAO procedures, apprenticeships, traineeships, and further training options and many other queries. Information on SUSI grants is also available.
The estimated cost of running the Helpline for one week is €40,000 to which my Department gives €20,000. Because the Helpline is operated by Guidance Counsellors who are in schools during term time, there would be a need to train additional staff, which would incur a cost.