Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

179. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider issuing a text and e-mail providing six months advance notice of a passport's expiry date to passport holders, given the huge backlog that occurs each summer and the problems persons have when they notice their passports are out of date. [16467/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As advised in the briefing on the passport applications process that I circulated to Members on 26 May, I am pleased to confirm that the Passport Service already offers a passport reminder service to customers. The reminder service, which can be accessed via the Passport Service web pages at www.passport.ie, sends an e-mail both three months and six months before a passport is due to expire to those who register. Registration simply requires passport holders to record their name, e-mail address and the expiry date of the passport.

It is possible to register a number of different passports (e.g. family members) using a single e-mail address. The reminder e-mail also provides details of how to renew the passport and where to obtain passport application forms.

It is in envisaged that as part of the future online application process for renewals (scheduled to launch in early 2017) that reminder notifications will automatically be sent to passport holders in advance of their renewal date.