Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Foreign Affairs

Passport Applications

10:00 am

Photo of Andrew DoyleAndrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish passports lost, mislaid or stolen in 2009 and to date in 2010; the percentage as a total of all passports requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29632/10]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Details of the numbers of passports reported as lost or stolen since 2009 are set out in the table below.

YearPassports issuedLost or mislaidStolenTotal% of total issued
2009579,50829,8014,82134,6225.97%
2010 to date325,99813,3282,18815,5164.76%

The percentages of Irish passports which are lost and stolen is in line with other countries, including the United Kingdom.

Individual citizens are primarily responsible for the safe keeping of their own passports. In this regard the Department is constantly urging that passports should always be kept in a secure place and that citizens take particular care of the document when travelling. However, passports are lost and the Department strongly advises that citizens notify the Passport Service of any lost passport at the earliest opportunity.

Once a passport is reported lost, this information is relayed to Interpol through An Garda Síochána. Interpol receives these updates on a daily basis. The information is then made available immediately to police forces and border control officers worldwide. Any individual who attempts to travel on a lost or stolen passport will as a result most likely be stopped at border control points.

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