Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for his response, which is in line with my experience in the constituency that moving to the online system has been of assistance. Approximately how many children's passport renewals have been processed since the second phase allowing such applications to be made online was rolled out last November? How much more complex is it to process a first-time application than a renewal? The Tánaiste indicated that service will be available online in 2021. I acknowledge that we must maintain the integrity of the passport system, but the Tánaiste is indicating that half of current applications are being processed online and the processing of first-time applications online would be another major step forward.

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