Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 85: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Irish passports issued to date in 2011 for residents of Northern Ireland; the percentage figure for this year for Irish passports issued to Northern Ireland persons over the past five years; and the overall figure for the number of Northern Ireland persons holding Irish passports. [34232/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Passport Service technology system does not record "address" information in the structured format necessary to facilitate the production of management information in relation to place of residency, place of birth etc. The availability of this information would require a fundamental redesign of the system, which could not be cost justified for this facility alone. This matter will be addressed in the context of any major system changes which may emerge in the future. In relation to figures from Northern Ireland, I can provide some information which may be of assistance to the deputy. I can confirm that up to end October 2011 31,800 applications were received through the Northern Ireland Passport Express service. This figure compares with 37,600 for all of 2010, 37,800 for 2009, 38,400 applications in 2008 and 36,000 in 2007. The number of Northern Ireland Passport Express applications represent 5.1% of all received to date this year, 5.5% in 2010, 5.8% in 2009, 5.8% in 2008 and 5.1% in 2007.

The Northern Ireland Passport Express service is an equivalent to the Passport Express service and is available in over 60 post offices in Northern Ireland.