Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Lowry for raising this issue. I know a number of Deputies have also raised it with the Minister, Deputy Coveney. The passport service commenced the scaling up of operations on 4 May 2021 in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in the Covid-19 resilience and recovery plan. The service has been focused since then on four priority areas, namely, clearing the Covid-19 backlog of 89,000 passport applications, processing all renewal applications, including new applications, within ten working days, processing urgent and emergency applications, and providing customer services through phone and web chat facilities. Progress has been made in clearing the Covid-19 backlog. Backlog applications that were completed properly have been processed and passports have issued. In the case of incomplete applications, the passport service has been in contact with applicants regarding the need to send in outstanding documents. Once all outstanding required documentation is received, the issuance of passports will follow. Passport service phone and web chat services are available to all people whose passport applications have, unfortunately, been affected by Covid-19 restrictions.

See this speech in context