Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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311. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passports issued in 2016 and to date in 2017; the amount of revenue generated through passports being issued; the amount of revenue generated through issuing the passport cards in November and December 2016 and per month to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21771/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The number of passports issued in 2016 was 733,197 and this generated total receipts of €46.9m. Between 1 January 2017 and 5 May this year 279,544 passports issued. This generated receipts of €13.6m. The monthly revenue generated by the issuance of passports cards since November 2016 is 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 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.

I launched a new online passport application service (www.dfa.ie/passportonline/) at the end of March. Adults can now submit their passport renewal applications online wherever they are in the world. The passport card application is an integral part of this new, online service.