I propose to take Questions Nos. 141, 153 and 158 together.
Passport applicants can track the status of their passport application online via the Passport Tracker which is available on my Department's website - www.dfa.ie/passporttracking/. The information available on the tracker has recently been upgraded and is an excellent guide as to where an application is in the system.
The online Passport Tracker tool provides applicants with an indication of how their application is progressing through the system and gives an estimated issue date based on the current average application processing time. The tracker is updated every two hours between 7am and 7pm.
When tracking their application using the online tracker tool, applicants will receive updates that relate to the current status of their application, such as:
- Application has been received.
- Application has been received. Applicant must submit supporting documents to proceed with the application.
- Supporting documents have been received and are being verified.
- Application is being processed
- There is a problem with the application. An email has been sent to the applicant.
- Passport is being printed.
- Passport has been dispatched.
The “processing application” stage on the Tracker covers the period of time from when supporting documents have been received and verified by the Passport Service until the application is approved. During some of that period the application is in a queue waiting to be reviewed.
On one occasion last week, the Passport Service experienced technical issues with the Tracker resulting in online applications not being registered on the Tracker for up to 24 hours. These issues have now been resolved and the Tracker is operating as normal.
The vast majority of passports are issued earlier than the estimated issue by-date. The Passport Service prioritises any applications that have exceeded their estimated issue-by date. It is important to note that the issue-by date is an estimate based on current average processing times and that it is not a service delivery guarantee.
The Passport Service has been proactively planning for the significant increase in demand for many months and has made an unprecedented investment in the staffing and resources necessary to meet this demand.
The Passport Service aims to register documents onto an application as soon as possible after the documents are delivered. During periods of high demand, the volume of post that the Passport Service receives is significant. The Passport Service operates a sophisticated document management system to manage these volumes. Documents are currently being registered on the day they are received.
99% of all child and adult online renewal applications are issued within the standard turnaround time and almost half of all adults who renew their passports online will receive their new passport in the post within 2 working days.
Processing time for first time applications now takes 25 working days, down from 40 working days in March. In the space of three months, processing time for first-time applications has been reduced by almost 40%.
The Passport Service operates an award-winning online service, which compares favourably internationally with countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. There is an ongoing programme of reform in the Passport Service, which continues to look at ways to enhance the customer experience for citizens.
I am satisfied overall that Passport Service operations are meeting the current needs of passport applicants and that recent service improvements are allowing the Passport Service to provide this essential citizen service in an efficient and effective manner.
Passport Service figures show that 4,500 passports have been reported lost or stolen to date in 2022. The Passport Service does not maintain records of the location where passports are lost or stolen. Details of lost or stolen passports are reported to Interpol and these passports are no longer valid for travel.
