Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The public services card is used increasingly as an efficient and secure means to access Government services, including social welfare services for the purposes of the free travel. Already there are in excess of 1.8 million such cards in circulation. It is important that this measure be recognised in the context of the fight against fraud.

Every effort is being made to ensure our targets are being met. A total of 223 temporary clerical officers have been recruited so far this year, which is an increase of 52 officers on last year. In view of the sustained increase in applications over past year, processing work has been redistributed across passport offices in recent months and staff redeployed from other areas of the Department as needed to respond to the increased workload. The passport service will continue to monitor the situation closely.

I advise people intending to travel to check their passport validity before booking holidays. I remind them that children’s passports vary in length of validity and that they should follow best practice and allow at least six weeks before the intended date of travel.

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