Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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381. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passports issued in 2015 and to date in 2016; the amount of revenue generated through passports being issued; the amount of revenue generated through issuing the passport cards per month in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37531/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The number of passports issued in 2015 was 672,760 and this generated €42.3m in receipts. The number of passports issued to 28^thNovember is 705,668 which generated a total of €42.2m in receipts. The receipts generated through passports cards per month in 2016 are as follows:

The revenue streams are appropriations in aid and are remitted directly to the exchequer.

The passport is a key travel and identity document. The processing of applications by the Passport Service involves the deployment of significant resources including to develop new business processes to modernise enrolment, checking and production systems and improve customer service. Software solutions and data analytics, including facial recognition, are also deployed to combat identity theft and maintain the integrity and high international reputation of the Irish passport.

The passport card is the latest initiative which gives adult Irish passport holders the option of a credit card-sized travel document for travel to 31 countries in total, including the EU/EEA plus Switzerland.