Written answers

Wednesday, 6 December 2006

Department of Foreign Affairs

Passport Applications

9:00 pm

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passports being replaced annually due to them being lost or stolen; and the figures for each of the past ten years. [42066/06]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The number of Irish passports reported as lost or stolen has generally remained consistent at between 3.5% and 4.5% of those issued each year. The table shows the relevant figures for the years 2000 to 2005. The figures for the earlier years requested are not immediately to hand but, I understand, that the percentage of lost/stolen passports during that period also remained consistent in the 3.5% to 4.5% bracket.

YearLostStolen
200012,7341,413
200118,5874,893
200217,1701,763
200319,0412,774
200420,0752,243
200522,1602,841

The Government has invested heavily (€34M) in passport development in recent years. As a result, the Irish passport now contains a range of sophisticated anti-fraud elements. It is widely regarded as among the best and most secure in the world.

The most recent upgrade (€6.6M) in October this year involved the introduction of the ePassport which includes the addition of facial imaging as a biometric marker. The new ePassport will help ensure that lost or stolen passports cannot be used for impersonation purposes, as any attempt to substitute the original photo will be readily detectable.

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