Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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522. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will reduce the fees charged for passports for elderly persons. [18498/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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In 2011 the Government found it necessary in light of the budgetary situation to discontinue the arrangement whereby over 65’s could avail of a reduced passport fee. The cost of exempting those aged 65 and over from passport fees was estimated in 2011 to be €2.4 million per annum in terms of lost revenue and, as the shortfall would have to be met by the taxpayer, I have no plans to introduce any such measures at this time.

I would emphasise that the annualised fee for a standard Irish passport compares favourably with many other jurisdictions. At €8 per year the Irish passport fee compares with approximately €9 per year for a British passport, €9 per year for a French passport, €12 per year for an American passport and €18 per year for an Australian passport.