Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1217: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of persons currently holding Irish passports; the number resident in the 26 counties holding Irish passports; the number resident in the Six Counties holding Irish passports; the number resident in Britain holding Irish passports; and the number outside the island of Ireland holding Irish passports. [32433/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Passport Office database records and collates data on applicants by place of birth rather than place of residence. In many cases this information is incomplete or inaccurate e.g. applicants may specify place of birth as Ireland rather than their county of birth. It is therefore possible only to give estimated figures in response to this question.

It is estimated that approximately 4,426,000 Irish citizens currently hold valid Irish passports. In relation to figures from Northern Ireland, I can confirm that up to end August 2010 31,275 applications were received through the Northern Ireland Passport Express Service available through post offices. This figure compares with 37,000 for all of 2009, 38,400 applications in 2008 and 36,000 in 2007.

In relation to figures from Great Britain, I can confirm that up to end August 2010 20,35 applications were received through the Passport Office in London. This figure compares with 50,899 for all of 2009, 53,804 applications in 2008 and 51,169 in 2007. In relation to figures for the rest of the World, I can confirm that up to end August 2010 28,392 applications were received through Ireland's offices overseas. This figure compares with 40,914 for all of 2009, 42,114 applications in 2008 and 41,410 in 2007.