Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for allowing me to put on the record the success of the new online passport renewal service launched in March 2017. Since its launch, more than 440,000 online applications have been received. For applications received so far this year, over 70% of eligible applicants have utilised the online renewal service rather than a paper application, which is very welcome from our perspective. The online service brings significant benefits to citizens, including faster turnaround times averaging ten working days plus postage, a user-friendly application process, greater customer satisfaction and fees reduced by €5 across all online applications.

The second phase of the online passport renewal service was rolled out in November 2018 when the online service was expanded to accommodate renewal applications for child applicants and additional cohorts of family applicants. With this expansion, more than half of all passport applicants are now eligible to renew online.

The online passport renewal service is part of the ongoing passport reform process. This programme is delivering major upgrades to the passport service technology platforms and business processes as well as making significant customer service improvements to the Passport Service. It is envisaged that as part of this reform the online application process will be rolled out to first-time applicants by 2021.

A strong take-up of online services will greatly improve the capacity of the Passport Service to manage increasing application volumes. Efficiencies gained mean that staff resources can be redeployed towards the processing of more complex applications, protecting the integrity of the Irish passport and enhancing the customer service we offer to citizens.

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