Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2018
121. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of persons waiting to have passport applications processed through the Passport Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8213/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Passport Service is currently processing over 58,000 passport applications. These applications are going through the normal checking, processing and security stages. The turnaround timeframe for processing a passport application will depend on the channel through which the application is submitted.
The highest proportion of applications are submitted through the Passport Express postal channel. The current average turnaround time for applications submitted through Passport Express is 16 working days, owing to a high volume of applications received over the first six weeks in 2018. It is expected that the turnaround time will return to the target turnaround time of 15 working day in the coming weeks.
The target turnaround time for the Online Passport Renewal Service is 10 working days plus postage. The vast majority of online applications are being processed within 7 working days, well ahead of the target. The online service is fast, secure, convenient and available to adult citizens renewing their Irish passports from anywhere in the world.
My Department continues to closely monitor the level of passport demand to ensure that all resources, including staffing, are effectively deployed. The Passport Service has received sanction for 210 Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs) this year to be appointed to the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork. Training for the first intake of TCOs has already commenced, with a sizeable proportion already in place. All TCOs are expected to be fully trained and in place by the end of March at latest.
The fact that turnaround times have not significantly deviated from targets despite the large increase in volume of applications so far this year reflects the hard work and professionalism of Passport Service staff. Service improvements, such as the introduction of the Online Passport Application Service that launched last year, will continue to make a major contribution to the effective management of these exceptionally high volumes.
In all cases, applicants should not book travel until in possession of a valid passport and should allow plenty of time for a passport to issue in case any problems with the application arise in the course of processing. I am grateful to Deputies for their continued assistance in advising constituents to visit the Passport Service webpage on my Department’s website (www.dfa.ie/passport) before applying, and to sign up for our passport renewal reminder service at www.eforms.gov.ie/en/reminder/passport/.
