Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the cost of the recently installed machine in the passport office; and the amount it has cost so far to repair this machine every time it has broken down. [17890/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As I indicated to the Deputy in reply to a previous question, the passport office is currently implementing a new system for processing passport applications. This includes a new, more secure passport booklet. As part of the overall project, specialised production equipment has been purchased for this purpose at a cost of approximately €8 million. The cost of maintenance of the production machines to date has been covered by the support and maintenance arrangements for the entire system and no additional costs have been incurred.