Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 June 2023
160. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department is aware of the increasing number of fraudulent Irish passport renewal websites operating; what action his Department is taking to have these websites removed; and if his Department is planning to run a public awareness campaign regarding this problem. [30472/23]
View answerMy Department is aware of third party websites who, in return for a fee, are purporting to assist passport applicants with their online application. Such websites advertising their services for a premium are not authorised to do so by the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Passport Service.
The Passport Service is not responsible for the content of, or fees charged, by these sites. The Passport Service strongly recommends that online passport applications should only be made at www.dfa.ie/passports. Members of the public should, of course, at all times exercise extreme caution when conducting any financial transactions online.
This type of third party purported service is not, of course, unique to passport applications. Any suspicions or concerns about any third party website should be reported to any Garda Station or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
There are no current plans to run a public awareness campaign about this issue, but the Passport Service is currently working on an update to its website to make citizens aware of such sites and to strongly advise citizens that online applications for a passport should only be made at www.dfa.ie/passports.
