Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
420. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason for the long delays in issuing passports; if there is a staff shortage in the passport offices and the passport office phone line; and the actions that are been taking to deal with this matter. [52259/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra429. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passports issued on a weekly basis in September 2021 and October 2021, up to and including 22 October 2021; the average turnaround time for overall applications in September 2021 and to 22 October 2021; the number of extra staff that were added to the office in October 2021 as opposed to September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52761/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra430. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passport applications that were outstanding on 22 September 2021 and subsequently on 22 October 2021; the number of these applications that are in excess of the average turnaround time; the processes that are in place to identify and process those applications that go beyond the average turnaround time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52762/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 420, 429 and 430 together.
Operations of the Passport Service were severely disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, as were many Government services. Emergency passport services were maintained during the pandemic, which required staff to be on site to process and issue passports. On that basis, and taking account of the COVID protocols in place at the time, 67,000 passport books and cards were issued between January and May of this year.
Since May of this year, almost 450,000 passports and passport cards have been issued, meaning that, in total, over half a million passports and cards have been issued to date in 2021. Almost 45% of passports for simple online adult renewals issue within one business day.
The current Passport processing times, provided all required documentation is provided and in order, are:
10 working days for Simple Adult renewals,
15 working days for Complex renewals,
40 working days for First Time applications on Passport Online and
8 weeks for An Post’s mail-in “Passport Express” service.
The projected passport issue date provided to applicants on the online Passport Tracker provides an indication only of the estimated issue date based on current averages. This projected issue date is not an intended guarantee of service. Applications can take longer than the average turnaround time if applicants have not provided all of the required documentation to complete their application. There are currently over 115,000 online applications on hand at the Passport Service. Of these, over 50,000, or 44% of applications, require the applicant to submit the documents needed to complete their passport application. The Passport Service engages with all applicants who have not submitted the required documentation to ensure that their application is completed correctly and can proceed through the processing system. Of the 65,000 applications that the Passport Service is processing, approximately 4,500 (7%) are past the estimated issue-by date. The Passport Service prioritises applications that are past their estimated issue-by date.
The Passport Service continually examines how to improve processing times and engagement with applicants, particularly in light of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the Passport Service and the high demand for passports seen in recent months as international travel resumed. In the context of the National Development Plan, my Department is making a major investment in the future of the Passport Service. Over the next couple of years, we will replace the core technology underpinning the service, which will deliver efficiencies and a more resilient passport system. Budget 2022 included an investment of an additional €10m in passport services in response to the increasing demand for passports both at home and abroad.
Adequate staffing of the Passport Service to respond to demand remains a priority for my Department and is an issue that is kept under constant review. The Department has assigned 126 officers to the Passport Service to date in 2021. In addition, 50 officers were internally reassigned to the Passport Service during the period of peak demand in the summer. The Department is currently focused on recruiting additional staffing to meet expected demand for passports in 2022 and ensuring adequate staffing levels in the Passport Service.
In line with the continued scaling up of services, the Passport Office in Mount Street, Dublin 2 and the Passport Office in Cork are now offering an Urgent Appointment Service for the renewal of passports. This service is available to people who require passport renewal at short notice and opt for this fee-based service to do so. To avail of this service and book an appointment, members of the public can visit the Department’s website (www.dfa.ie/passports). The Urgent Appointment Service ensures that, for those who unexpectedly require a very urgent turnaround of a passport renewal, an option is available that is transparent, predictable and clear. It means that an applicant can book and pay for their appointment, safe in the knowledge that they will have their passport within a day, or a few days.
I urge citizens to check the validity of their passports before booking travel and to ensure that they apply for a passport in plenty of time in order to avoid unnecessary stress. The Passport Online service continues to be the fastest and most efficient channel for passport applications and is available to first time applicants, both children and adults, in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. All Irish citizens, including children can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world.
The specific figures requested by Deputy Calleary are outlined below.
Passport applications on hand
|
Date |
Applications on hand |
|
22 September 2021 |
133,779 |
|
22 October 2021 |
130,353 |
Passport Books and Cards issued by week
|
Week commencing |
Passport books and cards issued |
|
30 August 2021 |
15,774 |
|
6 September 2021 |
18,118 |
|
13 September 2021 |
18,274 |
|
20 September 2021 |
18,574 |
|
27 September 2021 |
16,986 |
|
4 October 2021 |
17,764 |
|
11 October 2021 |
17,757 |
|
18 October 2021 |
14,373 |
