Dáil debates

Wednesday, 22 February 2017

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions

Passport Applications

2:40 pm

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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21. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current processing times for the passport service; the steps that have been taken and the resources allocated to deal with the increased demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8823/17]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I am sure the Minister is aware, as I am, of the difficulties being experienced within the passport service. I tabled this question to afford the Minister an opportunity to update the House on the current turnaround times, processing times, the resources that are allocated to the passport service and the additional resources he has planned, if at all possible. I am sure the Minister is aware of the many incidents in recent weeks where people have had business trips and family holidays cancelled because of the elongated processing times. I ask him to update the House on the steps he is taking to address this matter.

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, last year just over 730,000 passports were issued. This represented an increase of over 9% on the year before and demand continues to be very strong so far this year. Notwithstanding these pressures, renewal applications submitted through Passport Express continue to be processed within the 15 working day target. Some categories, however, such as first-time applicants, take longer because of additional anti-fraud measures. For example, first-time applicants are advised to allow 20 working days; the current turnaround time is 19 working days.

As the Deputy will readily appreciate, it is very important that citizens use the right channel when applying for a passport. There have been a number of cases in recent times where applicants have used Passport Express despite their travel plans falling within the processing period for their passport, and I know that people in this category frequently contact my office and those of other Deputies. Where applicants are travelling in less than 15 working days, the best course of action is to make an online appointment at the Passport Office in Dublin or Cork. There are a limited number of appointments available daily in both offices. I appreciate the assistance of Members of these Houses in promoting good practice as regards the Passport Office and I would like to thank the Deputy in this regard. This week, I will again circulate a note on good practice to all Members of the Houses.

Significant customer service improvements that are being rolled out as part of the passport reform programme will assist in managing growing demand. In particular, the new online service for adult renewals to be launched in the coming months will result in reduced turnaround times for applicants and significant efficiency gains for the passport service.

In the immediate term, and to respond to the seasonal demand and the more general increases, a total of 230 temporary clerical officers have been recruited into the Department. Over half of those officers are already in place and most of the others will join by early March.

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Regarding the renewal of applications within 15 days, I do not believe all of those are being met. Online appointments are limited, as the Minister said, and it is not a real option for people. I welcome the fact that he will issue an up-to-date note but my particular issue with this is that the figures for last year show there was an increase of almost 10%, with 740,000 passports being issued. The passport service through the Minister's Department employed additional clerical officers last year to deal with the spike around summer time, which is understandable. All of those were let go before Christmas and now we are employing them again. I put it to the Minister that we have to prepare in a post-Brexit Ireland because the level of applications being submitted will continue to increase. Employing temporary clerical officers in the passport office, letting them go and continuing that cycle is not a long-term solution. The passport service needs to revisit the turnaround time issue and republish those because as we approach the summer months and the holiday period, thousands of holiday makers and people who wish to go on business trips will be disappointed, as we have seen already. Is there any movement towards employing those 230 additional clerical officers on a full-time basis, which is the basis on which they should be employed? I would support the Minister if that is what he is endeavouring to do.

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the need for additional resources is kept under constant review. I agree that during recent years we have employed hundreds of temporary officers to assist the office, particularly during the summer months. They are a ready resource of experienced people who will work side by side with the permanent staff. However, I would remind the Deputy and the public that all applicants should carefully check the validity of their passports, and in particular those of their children, and then choose the correct mode of application because there have been a number of pressure points in recent times. The employment of temporary clerical officers is not a long-term solution. That is why we are proceeding with innovative actions in the Passport Office such as the passport card online service, which is very user-friendly for travelling and is accepted throughout the European Union and beyond. I would ask people to differentiate clearly between the application, the Passport Express service and the emergency application.

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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It is important that we recognise that there is a problem. I raised this matter with the Minister on 15 December 2016. I welcome the fact that additional resources are in place but permanent additional resources are needed. I would support the Minister in his efforts to do that because if the turnaround time for passport renewals is 15 working days, that is not the evidence I have available to me. While in most instances that is the case, in others it is not.

The online application will very much assist in this. Will the Minister update the House on when he hopes to roll out the facility? There are issues relating to incomplete applications that elongate the process. I agree with the Minister completely in this regard. However, this is causing stress for families and individuals who have planned to travel but who then realise they cannot get a passport in time. This is a major issue as well. The easier and the more seamless we make the process, the better for everyone.

2:50 pm

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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A total of 230 extra temporary staff are being employed. More than half this figure are already in office and all will be in place in the coming weeks. I expect online renewal to be introduced in the next couple of months. In the meantime, the An Post passport express channel will remain fully functional. This is an important service for An Post, especially in respect of the work and busyness or otherwise of post offices throughout the country, in particular rural post offices.

By 2019, as part of the overall long-term passport reform programme, it is envisaged that all applications will be enrolled via the online platform. I assure Deputies that all decisions relating to the reform of the passport service are informed by the strategic objectives of the Government, including the need to ensure we have a first-rate service for our people.