Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022
344. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason for specific advice (details supplied) being given to passport applicants or guardians and parents in the case of an application for a minor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24141/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn October 2021, the Passport Service established a temporary phone line to respond to Oireachtas Members' queries on urgent passport cases.
In each case raised by an Oireachtas Member, the Passport Service reviews the application in question. However, applications can only be expedited in cases of genuine emergency such as a need for urgent medical treatment overseas or the death of a family member abroad. Such applications are expedited through the Travel Emergency service.
In cases where the estimated issue-by date has passed and all required supporting documents have been submitted, the Passport Service will prioritise the application to ensure that no further delay is experienced.
When a query is raised by an Oireachtas Member about an application, a comment to this effect is saved on the applicant's file on the Passport's internal system.
When a passport applicant contacts the Customer Service Hub, the customer representative can access their file and provide a status update on their application. While accessing the file they may see that an Oireachtas member has contacted the Passport Service about the application. It is not Passport Service policy that applicants in these cases should be directed back to the Oireachtas Member for a status update. The Passport Service Customer Service team has reminded all customer service representatives that they should provide applicants with a status update on their application regardless of whether a query has been raised by a Member of the Oireachtas.
Passport applicants can also track the status of their passport application online via the Passport Tracker which is available on my Department's website - www.dfa.ie/passporttracking/.
