Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018
52. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he is taking to ensure that the waiting time for a new passport is restored to ten working days' wait time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12703/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Passport Service provides a range of channels to Irish citizens wishing to apply for a passport, including a postal channel, an award winning online application service, in person counter application facilities in Dublin and Cork and through the network of Irish Missions worldwide. The turnaround timeframe for processing a passport application will depend on the channel through which the application is submitted.
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. At present, the online service only accommodates adult renewals and passport card applications. It is planned to further extend the online passport application service to all renewals by the end of 2018.
The highest proportion of applications are submitted through the Passport Express postal channel. The average turnaround time for renewal applications submitted through An Post Passport Express currently stands at 16 working days.
The Passport Service operates an appointment service in both the Dublin (Mount Street) and Cork offices where applicants who need their passport application processed in timeframes shorter than those offered by the Passport Express and online facility can be accommodated.
The Passport Service strongly advises all applicants to check their passport when making travel plans and to check the Passport Service’s website for the most appropriate channel through which to submit their application.
I wish to reassure the Deputy the Passport Service monitors the volume of applications on an ongoing basis to ensure that resources are available to meet demand.
