Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to take up the issue of the severe delays being experienced in the issuing of passports at the Passport Office. In the period from January 2016 to January 2017 there was a 74% increase in the number of applications for passports. Some 60,000 applications are pending. As is well known, the increase stems from Brexit in that people with an entitlement to an Irish passport are applying for one, particularly in Northern Ireland, Britain and the United States. Without a doubt, staff in the Passport Office are under a lot of pressure. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has appointed additional staff, but I raise a particular issue concerning the Passport Express system. There was a ten working day turnaround period from the time an application was made through the post office, but this has increased to 15 days. The reality is, however, that it is taking a lot longer than 15 days to process applications. People pay the €80 fee and send off their application using the Passport Express system, thinking they will receive a new passport in 15 days, but they will not. When they monitor their application on-line, they see that nothing is happening and that the date of receipt might be beyond their travel departure date. There is an obvious issue about resources in the Passport Office, but, apart from this, it should be made clear that the turnaround time is not within 15 days. As a result, applicants should apply much earlier. When members of the public are handing over their money in the post office, there should be a sign notifying them of possible delays. The extended turnaround time is causing chaos for people in making travel plans. They are turning to politicians for help, but the problem could be alleviated if the position was set out more clearly. The Minister should examine the matter. The severe delays in the Passport Office should be communicated more clearly to the general public.