Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2022
275. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passport applications that have been received through the passport express service from January 2022 to date; the number that are waiting to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25859/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra276. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current turnaround time for processing passport applications made through the passport express service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25860/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra277. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the length of time that it is currently taking to process additional documentation for passport applications made through the passport express service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25861/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra278. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures that he is taking to address the backlog of processing passport applications that have been made through the passport express service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25862/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 275, 276, 277 and 278 together.
The paper-based, mail-in Passport Express service is available to citizens at almost 1,000 An Post post offices and at over 70 post office locations in Northern Ireland. The Passport Service also receives a small number of paper-based applications through our network of embassies and consulates across the world. All paper-based applications are processed through the centralised automated passport service system, regardless of the channel through which they are made.
The Passport Service has received 60,000 paper-based applications since 1st January 2022. Of these, 43,000 are Passport Express applications made by persons residing in the State.
There are currently 35,000 paper-based applications in the Passport Service system. Of these, 29,000 are fully complete and are being processed by the Passport Service. A further 6,500 applications are incomplete, which means the Passport Service is waiting on the applicant to submit required supporting documents.
The target turnaround time for Passport Express applications is 8 weeks. When an applicant is requested to submit additional supporting documents, these documents are prioritised upon receipt by the Passport Service, and the Passport Service then aims to process the application within 15 working days.
The Passport Service provides a range of channels to Irish citizens worldwide who wish to apply for a passport. These include a postal application system, online passport application service, in person counter application facilities at the passport offices in Dublin, Cork and London, and the network of Irish Missions worldwide.
Some 90% of all passport applications, including first-time applications, are now being made online. The Passport Service is committed to continuing to offer a range of application channels, including a mail-in, paper-based service for citizens who are not eligible or do not wish to use online passport services. Passport Online is the priority channel for applications as there are many efficiencies built into the system for the applicant and the Passport Service. The Passport Online service can be accessed by all first-time applicants, including children and adults, in over 50 countries worldwide. All Irish citizens, including children, can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world. Passport Online offers Irish citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is a user-friendly, efficient service that consistently offers processing times up to four times faster than the paper-based passport renewal application system.
While there is a very high volume of applications in the Passport Service system, this does not represent a backlog. These applications are all being processed in the usual way, with a continuous stream of new applications and a continuous dispatch of completed passports happening every day.
The Passport Service is proactively managing the current demand for passports and has put in place resources and structures to address the estimated significant increase in demand for passports in 2022 in this essential citizen service.
The Passport Service has been scaling up resources to deal with anticipated demand since June of last year. A major recruitment drive, in partnership with the Public Appointments Service, has been underway over the past several months. This has seen the number of Passport Service staff increase by 344 since June 2021.
In addition, the Passport Service is currently running its own recruitment competition for Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs). The interviews have concluded and TCOs recruited from this competition are being assigned on a weekly basis from Monday, 23 May. The first group of 20 new TCOs started work on Monday, 23 May. This recruitment effort will bring staffing numbers at the Passport Service to over 900 which represents double the number of staff with the Passport Service in June of last year.
Intensive training of new staff and upskilling of existing staff has been underway for several months to increase the resources that can process complex applications, such as first time child applications.
The Passport Service continues to implement further measures to deal with increased demand on its services:
- The Passport Service has a comprehensive plan to ensure that adequate staff, accommodation and technology supports are in place to meet expected demand for passports in 2022
- The Passport Service is prioritising first time applications and directing increased resources to processing these complex applications with a view to reducing the current turnaround time. Passport Service staff are working targeted overtime in this regard.
- The Urgent Appointment Service is available for customers who wish to renew their passport at short notice. Customers availing of this service can renew their passport within 1 or 4 days in Dublin, within 4 days in Cork and within 5 days in London.
- A new document management system was put in place at the beginning of March. This aims to improve the processing speed in the Passport Service offices, and subsequent turnaround times for the applicant. One particular feature of the new system improves the processing time for applicants who have been asked to submit additional documents. Once the additional documents are received, they are being prioritised and complete applications can then be processed in 3 weeks. This significantly reduces the processing time, particularly for first time applicants.
- Public information media campaigns reminding citizens to check and renew their passports will continue during this busy year.
- There is an updated Department of Foreign Affairs website, which includes a new passport service section where applicants can easily find out what additional documents are required for their type of application.
- The Passport Service is also working on public education materials, including video tutorials, with a view to assisting applicants to complete their application correctly. These videos will be shared on social media and will include instructions on submitting consent forms for child applications properly.
Since March of this year, the Passport Service has reduced the processing time for first-time applications from 40 working days to 30. This 25% reduction in processing times is a direct result of the substantial level of investment my Department has made in the service.
I am confident that the measures that have been implemented will help to reduce passport turnaround times in the course of 2022 and will assist the Passport Service in meeting the high demand forecast for this year.
I strongly urge anyone who is considering travelling overseas this year, particularly families with young children, to check the validity of their passports before booking travel and to apply for their passports online in plenty of time.
