Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 June 2022
128. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current average processing times for applications submitted to the foreign birth register; the average processing time for applications submitted in March 2020; when he expects that these applications will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28503/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra129. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of processing the backlog of applications to the foreign birth registry that were paused during Covid-19 restrictions; the steps that are being taken to address the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28504/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 129 together.
My Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
The processing of Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) has resumed and will be gradually scaling up in line with the recruitment of additional resources.
There are currently 37,000 Foreign Birth Registration applications on hand with the Passport Service. To date this year, the Passport Service has processed over 5,000 Foreign Birth Registration applications.
Applications submitted in March 2020 are being stored in a secure environment and are due to be processed in the near future.
Due to the complex nature of the FBR process, the large increase in applications received following the Brexit vote in the UK, and the pause in the Service due to necessary Covid-19 restrictions, applicants should allow 26 months from the receipt of supporting documentation for processing of FBR applications at this time. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, and the subsequent reassignment of FBR staff to assist in the provision of essential passport services, the Foreign Birth Registration Service was paused for nearly 15 months across the 2020-2021 period.
FBR staff continue to provide an emergency service for Foreign Birth Registration in cases of exceptional urgency, such as expectant parents, or stateless persons. Such applicants may continue to contact the Passport Service directly. For other applications, the FBR service operates a transparent general policy of processing applications in order of receipt.
My Department is fully committed to the continued allocation of additional resources over the coming period to assist with the processing of the Foreign Birth Registration applications currently on hand and the high volume of new applications anticipated this year.
The Passport Service is taking a number steps 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.
- A major recruitment drive has been underway over the past several months, which has seen the number of Passport Service staff increase by over 340 since June 2021.
- The Passport Service is currently running its own recruitment competition for Temporary Clerical Officers. This recruitment effort will bring staffing numbers to over 900, which represents a doubling of staff compared to June 2021.
- Intensive training of new staff and upskilling of existing staff is underway to increase the resources that can process complex applications.
I am confident that the measures that have been implemented will help to reduce Foreign Birth Registration turnaround times in the course of 2022 and will assist the Passport Service in meeting the high demand forecast for this year.
