Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 41: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, in view of the widespread concern about delays in processing passport applications, the proposals he has to reduce considerably the timescale in approving such applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14066/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Due to a surge in demand, the turnaround time for Passport Express applications received through the Passport Express system is currently running between 11 and 13 working days. It normally takes 10 working days. During the peak summer period, application processing times for this service can lengthen and the processing period for ordinary post applications is currently six weeks or longer.

Passport demand in general is 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 four recent days at over 5,200, exceeding by 700 the highest number previously for any one single day.

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 of less than 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, through seasonal overtime and the additional output provided by recruited temporary staff, is working to bring processing times back to normal levels at the earliest opportunity.

There has been some media commentary on the scale of the delays and some of this has been inaccurate. Whereas the delay of three working days in processing passport express applications is regretted, it is three working days and not the many weeks suggested by some media commentators. Passport express applications are still being produced within 13 working days maximum. Equally, over 70% of applications submitted on the island come through the express services and accordingly the number of citizens experiencing weeks of delay has also been overstated in places.

We would strongly appeal to the public to assist the Passport Service by checking the validity of their passports before making bookings to travel abroad. A valid passport should be the first item on any check list when considering foreign travel.