Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Dempsey for the question, congratulate her on her election to the Dáil and look forward to working constructively with her.

The passport service issued more than 1 million passport books and cards in 2024. There were 16,792 adult passports and 12,474 child passports issued to residents of County Meath in 2024, bringing the total number of passports issued to Meath residents to 29,266. The passport service forecasts that more than 940,000 passport applications will be submitted in 2025. Based on these figures, the Passport Office estimates there will be approximately 26,000 applications from residents of County Meath in 2025.

The passport service continues to be in an excellent position to meet the demand forecast for 2025, with 855 staff officers currently assigned to it. Customers who need to have their passports renewed urgently can book an appointment at the public counter in Mount Street or in Cork. The passport service offers a one-day or four-day renewal service in Dublin and a four-day renewal service in Cork. There are currently 220 one-day renewal appointments available in Dublin every week, which may be of use to the Deputy's constituents. There are 265 four-day renewal appointments available in Dublin and 240 four-day renewal appointments available in Cork every week.

In the case of genuine emergencies, such as a bereavement or serious illness of a family member abroad, citizens can contact the Passport Office directly. The passport service gives priority to these applications. I ask the Deputy to encourage her constituents who are travelling this year, particularly those with young children who require their first passport, to apply online and in plenty of time.

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