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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Passport Applications.

Charlie O'Connor

Ceist:

315 Mr. O'Connor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has satisfied himself with the services being provided by the Passport Office to Tallaght, Dublin 24, which is now the third largest population centre in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20186/02]

I am satisfied that the services offered by the Passport Office to Tallaght, Dublin 24, are adequate. The Passport Office has two public offices in Ireland, in Dublin and in Cork, and the latter was established to provide a greater geographical spread of service for those customers who wish to apply in person for a passport. Tallaght is served by the Passport Office in Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 in this regard.

Under its customer service action plan 2001-03, the Passport Office is committed to offering the following level of service: issuing passports within ten working days in response to properly completed Passport Express and counter applications; processing applications made by ordinary post within 20 working days; serving customers apply ing in person within 30 minutes in less busy periods and within 90 minutes in busy periods; serving persons seeking information or collecting passports within 15 minutes in less busy periods and within 45 minutes in busy periods; making every effort to meet travel dates when passports are applied for in genuine emergencies; and treating people on the basis of equality and without discrimination.
The Passport Express service, which is operated jointly between my Department and An Post, provides that passports are issued within ten working days upon receipt of a properly completed application. The Passport Express service is available at over 1,000 ServicePlus post offices around the country. Post Office staff ensure that the documentation checklist on the back of the special envelope accompanies the completed application form, collect the passport fee on behalf of the Passport Office, and its administration charge, and deliver the application to the relevant passport office by Swiftpost.
This service is available through the main post office in The Square in Tallaght, and in seven local ServicePlus post offices to persons resident in Dublin 24. Where a passport is not required within four or five weeks, the application may be sent by regular post to the Passport Office and the passport will be issued within this time frame. Where a passport is required within two weeks for urgent travel purposes, application may be made in person to the Passport Office in Molesworth Street, Dublin 2.
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