Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 24: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the percentage of the population that currently holds a passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3905/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Passport Office estimates that there are approximately 4.2 million holders of current Irish Passports.

In 2006 there were 677,000 applications processed, this is in line with the 2005 figure of 680,675. The actual figure for passports produced was approximately 630,000 in both years.

In 2006 a total of 86,970 passports were issued on behalf of consulate and embassies abroad and approx 40,000 were issued to Irish citizens in Northern Ireland. The Office estimates that somewhere between 80% and 90% of adults in the State hold Irish passports.