John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to clear the current backlog in the Passport Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11653/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Passport Service has, in recent weeks, experienced a very significant surge in demand, with requests for passports currently running at a level 13% higher than the same period in earlier years. At present the Passport Service is receiving an average of 4,260 applications per day. This is an unprecedented level of demand, with the number of applications received from Irish residents alone in two days over the past week at over 5,200, exceeding by 700 the highest number previously received on any one single day. The largest increase has been observed in passports for children between the age of 3 and 18 and is running 16% over previous years. Due to the surge in demand, the turnaround time for applications received through the Passport Express system is currently running between 11 and 13 working days. It normally takes 10 working days. The Passport Service regrets the delay and any difficulties caused in this regard. Notice of the current extended turnaround time and its likely duration has been published on the Passport Service website www.passport.ie . The Passport Office has also told An Post so that customers can be advised of the situation at the point of application.

The system is also coping with an unprecedented demand for passports at short notice, with some 350 people per day coming to the public office seeking passports within a period under 10 days. To protect the integrity of the system and the quality of the passport, the Passport Service cannot provide standard passports within a single day. The shortest turnaround time available is three working days for applications received over the public counter accompanied by proof of travel, other than in cases of genuine emergency.

The Passport Service has recently recruited additional temporary staff and these staff members are currently being trained in passport processing. Within a short period, seasonal overtime and the additional output provided by temporary staff, will bring processing times back to normal levels.

In the meantime, the Passport Service is appealing strongly to all members of the public not to make arrangements for themselves or their family to travel abroad until they have ensured that their passports are in date. The availability of last-minute holiday offers has led to an increase in the number of people looking for a turnaround of less than 10 days for their passport. Applicants must apply in time, taking into account that processing times are based on working days and that, for instance, 10 working days would usually equate to two full weeks.