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

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue because it is a major one for many people.

My Department has made an unprecedented investment in the passport service by way of additional staff and improvements to the passport and customer service systems. The passport service is proactively managing the current demand for passports and has put in place resources and structures to address the estimated significant increase in demand for passports in 2022 in this essential citizen service.

More than 400,000 passports have been issued to date in 2022. In the same period in 2019, which saw the highest peak before this year, 355,000 passports were issued. More strikingly, in the busiest month in 2019 some 105,000 applications were received compared with 157,000 in February of this year. A total of 117,000 passports were issued in April alone, with 45% of adult renewal passports being issued within one to two working days.

It is stated there are currently 183,000 applications in the passport service system but I believe it is now closer to 190,000. I checked just before I came in. While there is a very high volume of applications in the system, this does not represent a backlog. These applications are all being processed in the usual way, with a continuous stream of new applications and a continuous dispatch of completed passports happening every day.

I understand that as we approach the summer months, people will be thinking about going on holidays and renewing their passports. While I strongly urge everyone to apply for a passport in plenty of time, the urgent-appointment service is available for customers who wish to renew their passports at short notice. Customers availing of this service can renew a passport within one to four days in Dublin and within four days in Cork. Almost 5,000 customers have availed of this service since January of this year.

It is a priority for the passport service to improve processing times in 2022, particularly for first-time applicants, for whom I know there has been an issue. The passport service is implementing several further measures that will positively affect current turnaround times and further improve customer service, including working targeted overtime to focus on key areas such as first-time applications, intensive training of staff and enhanced public information resources. I am confident that the measures implemented will continue to help to reduce passport turnaround times in 2022.

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