Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2024
99. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the current number of passport applications on hand, including incomplete applications, by the number of months they have been in the system, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10582/24]
View answerThe Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports with turnaround times at or well-ahead of target, and no backlogs. The majority of online adult renewal applications issue within two working days.
The Passport Online service offers Irish citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is a user-friendly, efficient service that consistently offers processing times up to 4 times faster than paper-based passport renewal applications. Just over 90% of all passport applications are made through Passport Online which is now available to 99.9% of all applicants across the world.
The Customer Service Hub currently responds to an average of 10,000 queries per week where customers can easily access the information they need.
I would ask the Deputy to encourage your constituents to apply online for the quickest, cheapest and most efficient service.
The numbers of passport applications currently in the system are outlined below in tabular form. Online applications are recorded by the date the applicant makes their application online. It is the experience of the Passport Service that it can take weeks and sometimes even months for Passport Online applicants to submit the documents required in order to progress their application. Once the applicant has submitted an application through Passport Online, the Passport Service emails them regularly to remind them to submit the required supporting documentation.
The numbers below are broken down between applications that are with the Passport Service for action and those that require further action by the applicant. Applications that are with the applicant cannot be progressed by the Passport Service until the applicant takes the required action.
Passport applications in the Passport Service (PPS) system by month
|
With PPS |
With Applicant |
|
|
|
MONTHS since most recent correspondence from applicant |
# Applications |
MONTHS |
# Applications |
|
Less than 1 month |
76,983 |
Less than 1 month |
24,469 |
|
1 |
5,108 |
1 |
10,525 |
|
2 |
92 |
2 |
3,545 |
|
3 |
93 |
3 |
3,844 |
|
4 |
36 |
4 |
3,593 |
|
5 |
45 |
5 |
1,534 |
|
6-12 months |
104 |
6-12 months |
6,954 |
|
13+months |
88 |
13+ months |
10,130 |
|
Total with PPS |
82,549 |
Total with Applicant |
64,594 |
The number of passport applications that are with the Passport Service for processing six months or more represents 0.001% of the total number of applications in the system. These are very complex or sensitive cases that may involve citizenship, guardianship or legal issues. These require very thorough examination by experienced staff and can take longer to process. There are often multiple interactions between the Passport Service and the applicant or their guardians during this time, as well as with other government departments and agencies if required.
