Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am still at a loss about what the problem is within the system. I do not know if the Tánaiste knows what is the problem. Is it a lack of staff, the printing machine or the volume of applications? He said there has been an exceptional increase in the volume of applications but we realise that there would be a greater demand this year. An official from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts said that it had taken more than six weeks to process 27,000 passport applications, which is 30 working days, while it had taken up to eight weeks to process a further 22,000 applications, which is 40 working days. There are, clearly, problems within the system.

When applicants go online to look for information, they are not told that there is a delay in the system. If they go on Twitter, they do not get an answer. People are telling me that when they ring the Passport Office, they are not getting through or are not getting information. If they email, they do not get information. There is a problem there with regard to up-to-date information and that needs to be resolved. People are applying much earlier to renew their passports but there is still a difficulty in the system. I do not criticising staff. I do not know what is wrong, which is why I am asking the Tánaiste for an answer.

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