Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Breathnach for raising this important issue.

More than 733,000 passports were issued last year, which represented an increase of more than 9% on 2015 and the strong demand has continued this year. At present, my Department forecasts further growth of 7% in passport applications in 2017. Last year saw an increase of 26% in applications from Northern Ireland and almost 41% from Great Britain. I expect this trend to continue.

Even with these increases, passport applications from the UK still represent less than 20% of total applications. Our growing economy has led to many more people travelling and we witnessed strong growth in outbound travel in 2016. Indeed, the CSO statistics show that there were 7.4 million overseas trips by Irish residents in 2016 compared with 6.9 million trips in 2015 - an increase of 7%. A growing population is among the other relevant factors which have significantly contributed to the growth in demand for Irish passports in recent times. The pressures are very real but I am satisfied that the passport service continues to have the capacity to meet its service commitments. The 15 working day target for passport renewals was met in almost 90% of the cases last year and it continues to be met this year. The turnaround time for first-time applicants is 20 working days due to the additional anti-fraud measures that apply. The integrity of our passport booklet is of key importance and Members will appreciate the care taken to protect its reputation.

To address the increased demand for passports, the passport service is employing over 230 temporary clerical officers during peak season this year to assist with the processing of passports. These staff have been hired and the roles are currently being filled.

The vast majority of applications on both sides of the Border are submitted through the post office networks on this island. This includes more than 70 post offices in Northern Ireland and more than 1,000 post offices in the State.

Over 90% of passport applications from the island of Ireland last year were submitted through the postal service. No Irish citizen needs to travel any significant distance to renew a passport routinely.

We are all keenly aware of the importance of our post office network on this island and I acknowledge the valuable role it plays in administering the passport service. I also want to acknowledge the importance of the post office, especially in rural areas. Public counter services for passport applications are the exception rather than the norm. In some cases where citizens find themselves without a valid passport, the offices in either Dublin or Cork offer an appointment service. These appointments can be made online.

I have great sympathy for those who have not allowed sufficient time for their applications and we endeavour to assist where possible. I emphasise that it is fundamental for applicants to choose the correct mode of application when applying for a passport. People should also ensure their passports are in date before booking travel.

I am progressing a programme of passport reform. A new online service will be launched in the coming months for adults, whether they are based on the island of Ireland or overseas. This service will be extended to all applicants, including first-time applicants and children, by 2019. People who cannot or do not wish to apply online will continue to be able to submit application forms through a service provider with an extensive network of contact points throughout the country.

The introduction of the online service will result in reduced turnaround times and fewer demands on the passport offices in Dublin and Cork. The efficiency gains will help my Department to manage the large volume of increases. The rationale for additional passport offices is not obvious and any new office would, in any case, need to have the capacity to provide a rapid renewal service to applicants with urgent travel requirements such as the service available through the Passport Office. This would require a passport production machine on site in a specially controlled and secure environment. The cost of a new passport printing machine would amount to €1.7 million.

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