Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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590. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the additional resources he has made available to ensure there is not undue delay in processing passport applications at this busy time of the year. [10503/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Throughout this year the demand for passports has been exceptionally high. From 1 January to 13 May the Passport Service has received a total of 314,585 applications for passport books and 9,475 for passport cards. This represents a significant increase of almost 15% in applications for passport books compared to the same period last year.

To address the anticipated increase over the summer season, the Passport Service has recruited Temporary Clerical Officers who will work a total of 5,122 weeks this year. Additional Temporary Clerical Officers will be recruited shortly for a total of 780 weeks to manage the significant increase in phone calls and customer queries over the remaining peak period to August. In view of the sustained increase in applications over last year processing work has been redistributed across passport offices in recent months and staff re-deployed from other areas of the Department as needed to respond to the increased workload.

I strongly recommend that citizens check that the expiry date on their passports, prior to booking overseas travel. While Passport Express passport renewal applications can take up to 15 working days to process, it is best practice for prospective travellers to allow at least six weeks for passport applications to be processed and to take special care to ensure that application forms are correctly completed (for example failure to submit the necessary documentation required by an application can often cause a delay in processing turnaround time). Submission of applications in good time is particularly important during the peak season which runs from April until August.

The Passport Service will continue to closely monitor the situation, including to ensure the effective deployment of staff resources.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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591. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware that An Post is advising its customers that Passport Express will deliver a passport within ten working days whereas the Passport Office is suggesting at least six weeks; and to ensure An Post gives out the correct advice at times of increased workload on the Passport Office given that it cannot reasonably comply with or achieve the ambitious timeframe of Passport Express, thus leaving many Irish travellers scrambling to get their passports at the last minute. [10504/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Department works closely with An Post to ensure that Passport Express customers are updated regularly on target turnaround times for passport applications.

Passport renewal times can vary depending on seasonal and other factors. The Passport Service has experienced a 15% increase approximately in applications so far this year over 2015 and demand is expected to remain very high in the coming months. We have taken a number of measures to address the situation, including requesting that An Post, which administers Passport Express, the means by which the vast majority of passport applications are made, to advise customers that the service target for passport renewals is 15 working days.

On 21 March An Post issued an update to all staff who deal with the public to advise that the service target was at 15 working days from the time of posting and this was also notified on the An Post website. I understand that An Post has now updated its printed promotional materials to include these target turnaround times and that the materials have been distributed across the post office network. It should be noted that the turnaround times which are advised, including those for the An Post Passport Express service, are not a stated guarantee.

The Passport Service website has also been updated to advise customers how to avoid the stress and inconvenience of having passport applications processed at the last moment. The key points are to:

- check the validity of passports before booking a holiday,

- to remind that children’s passports vary in length of validity

- apply at least six weeks before the intended date of travel

- choose the most appropriate application channel depending on the date of travel

- if travelling in three weeks or more (15 working days) the Passport Express channel is the cheapest and most convenient option.

- if travelling in three weeks or less an appointment for the Passport Office in Dublin or Cork should be made online at www.passportappointments.ie.

I strongly recommend that citizens check their passport validity before booking holidays or business travel and apply for the service which will ensure passports arrive in good time. Allowing six weeks turnaround time is considered best practice.