Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2021
336. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the estimated amount in hours and costs of overtime for staff in the passport office on a monthly basis from February 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47775/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below sets out the monthly cost of overtime for Passport Service staff from February 2020 to September 2021.
|
Period |
Total |
|
2020/002 |
7,470.59 |
|
2020/003 |
7,948.82 |
|
2020/006 |
3,757.85 |
|
2020/007 |
4,018.96 |
|
2020/008 |
3,035.74 |
|
2020/009 |
3,735.13 |
|
2020/010 |
4,095.26 |
|
2020/011 |
2,706.90 |
|
2020/012 |
2,162.75 |
|
2021/001 |
3,623.28 |
|
2021/002 |
1,315.39 |
|
2021/003 |
706.95 |
|
2021/004 |
2,674.50 |
|
2021/005 |
2,704.85 |
|
2021/006 |
67,933.08 |
|
2021/007 |
114,870.76 |
|
2021/008 |
89,712.00 |
|
2021/009 |
117,493.10 |
|
Grand Total |
439,965.91 |
The Passport Service scaled up operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”. As evidenced by the figures provided, overtime costs rose in June of this year to meet passport demands as operations scaled up.
The Passport Service monitors the volume of applications on an ongoing basis to ensure that staff resources are available to meet demand. My Department is currently working with the Public Appointments Service to recruit additional staff to meet the current and forecasted demand for passports in the coming period. The Public Appointments Service has recently assigned Temporary Clerical Officers to augment the Passport Service and more will be assigned in the coming weeks in line with the planned relaxation of social distancing measures.
