Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Irish passports that were issued in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; if additional staff will be allocated to the Passport Office during the peak season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9296/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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In 2011 599,468 passports were issued by the Passport Service. This increased by over 5% in 2012 to 631,939. So far in 2013 over 90,000 applications have been received.

Demand for passport services is highly seasonal, with almost 50% of applications being received in the four months April – July each year. Therefore the Department employs temporary clerical staff (TCOs) to help the Passport Service meet the exigencies of the service. It is anticipated that this year 133 TCOs will be recruited and allocated across all offices in the Passport Service.