Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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1. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the waiting time for the passport express service; if he has extended these due to the volume of applicants; the number of passports awaiting dispatch; the number that have not been issued within the usual 15-day deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12236/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I congratulate Deputy Darragh O’Brien on his appointment as foreign affairs and trade spokesperson for his party and on his election to the Dáil. I wish him good health and success in that position. I offer him the support and co-operation of my office at all times and trust that we will have a fruitful relationship. I also congratulate Deputy Crowe on his reappointment as spokesperson on foreign affairs and trade for his party and similarly offer him the support and co-operation of my office. I also welcome the appointment of the new Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McHugh. He has for many years expressed an interest in foreign affairs issues. I wish him every success in his position and the same to Deputy Dara Murphy, the Minister of State with special responsibility for European affairs. I have not had the opportunity of meeting Deputy Gino Kenny. I welcome him to the House and wish him every personal and professional fulfilment in his role as a Member of Dáil Éireann.

The passport express service, operated in partnership with An Post, offers a target turnaround time of 15 working days from posting for correctly completed passport renewal applications. I would like to underline that this is a target turnaround time and not a stated guarantee. First time passport applications take longer as the person's identity and entitlement to citizenship must be established.

As of 23 May, compared with the same period last year, demand is up by 13%, which is exceptional. There were more than 68,200 passport applications being processed on the same date. In the case of passport express renewal applications, which account for approximately 90% of all applications in the State, correctly completed applications are being processed within the target issue date at 13 to 14 working days.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his kind wishes and I wish him well on his reappointment as Minister and the same to the Ministers of State, Deputy McHugh and Deputy Dara Murphy. I very much look forward to working with the Minister in a spirit of co-operation.

In respect of my question, I am aware that the target turnaround time is 15 working days. The problem at the moment is that turnaround time is not being met. People who have applied, assuming a 15-day turnaround, are being told now that is being extended to 30 days. I am aware there has been a significant increase in the volume.

What steps is the Passport Office, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, taking to deal with the increased workload? It is causing a great deal of stress for families who have saved hard to go on holiday and travel. The Department needs to focus on bringing the average turnaround time back to 15 days.

Applications for brand new passports or to replace lost or stolen ones require the production of the new public service card. Many people have not been issued with a public services card. They then have to make an appointment, further elongating the process.

This is a major issue. We receive many complaints about it and it is causing a lot of anxiety for people who have spent significant sums of money on foreign holidays and find now that they may not be able to travel.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The public services card is used increasingly as an efficient and secure means to access Government services, including social welfare services for the purposes of the free travel. Already there are in excess of 1.8 million such cards in circulation. It is important that this measure be recognised in the context of the fight against fraud.

Every effort is being made to ensure our targets are being met. A total of 223 temporary clerical officers have been recruited so far this year, which is an increase of 52 officers on last year. In view of the sustained increase in applications over past year, processing work has been redistributed across passport offices in recent months and staff redeployed from other areas of the Department as needed to respond to the increased workload. The passport service will continue to monitor the situation closely.

I advise people intending to travel to check their passport validity before booking holidays. I remind them that children’s passports vary in length of validity and that they should follow best practice and allow at least six weeks before the intended date of travel.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the Minister's reply. This needs to be kept as a watching brief. I will be keeping an eye on it as well. I will pass on the Minister's response to those who have been in touch with me.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I remind all Deputies that the passport service updates its website weekly with turnaround times. An Post's passport express renewal applications are taking 13 to 14 working days to process. The first time application takes somewhat longer. However, every effort is being made to meet this unprecedented challenge within the Passport Office and I will keep the Deputies fully informed having regard to the points raised by Deputy Darragh O'Brien.