Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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347. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the cost of the new credit-card-sized passport for European travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35229/15]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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353. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the cost of the newly introduced Irish passport card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35460/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 347 and 353 together.

The new passport card combines pioneering technology and security features with very strong user-friendliness and flexibility in how applications are made. Since I launched the passport card on 5 October almost six thousand applications have been received from Irish citizens around the world.

The budget allocated to the passport card project this year is €1.35 million. In addition, initial development costs for the project incurred in 2014 were €416,000. These include costs associated with the production and design of a secure passport card, valid for travel to thirty one countries.

The card has advanced security features including an embedded hologram photo to prevent counterfeiting. The expenditure also allowed the development of a smartphone application to enable people to apply remotely and a dedicated website which facilitates on-line applications.

It is estimated that the costs incurred in developing the passport card system will be recovered from revenue within two years.