Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 27: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when passports will issue to persons (details supplied) in view of the fact that applications have been lodged since the 1 March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12136/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The applications for the two persons concerned were submitted through the ordinary post, a service which receives a lesser priority in processing terms than those submitted through the Passport Express service and does not have a guaranteed turnaround time. At present passports submitted through the ordinary service are taking between 6 and 10 weeks to process, unless these passports are required for urgent travel. It should also be noted that during the peak summer period, application processing times can lengthen for all passport applications. The Passport Service recommends that all citizens use the Passport Express service when applying for a passport as priority is given to applications submitted through this channel.

I can confirm that passports for the two persons in question issued on 16 May 2011. The Passport Service regrets the delay in this case.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 28: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that citizens can acquire passports within a reasonable timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12174/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Passport Service is experiencing a surge in demand for passports, unprecedented in volume and timing, apparently fuelled by families taking foreign holidays earlier in the year. The situation is further complicated by the number of applicants who are calling to the counter seeking the urgent renewal of their passports in order to enable them to travel on last-minute bookings. The Passport Service regrets the delay and any difficulties caused in this regard. Additional temporary staff have been recruited and are in training. Within a short period, seasonal overtime and the additional output provided by temporary staff will bring processing times back to normal levels.

The public can also assist the Passport Service by checking the validity of their passports before making bookings to travel abroad. We would urge that a valid passport be the first item on any check list when considering foreign travel, whereas all too often it appears to be the last.