John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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365. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passports currently being processed by the Passport Office; the current waiting time for a passport under the passport express service; the current waiting time for a passport through the regular passport application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24123/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Passport Service is currently processing almost 80,000 applications. Total applications so far this year are up over 15% on the same period in 2016. Different turnaround times apply depending on whether the applications are for passport renewal, to replace a passport that has been lost, damaged or stolen or for a passport for the first time. At present the turnaround time for Passport Express renewals is fifteen working days, in line with the service target. First-time applications and applications related to passports that have been lost, damaged or stolen take twenty two working days, or two working days over the target. Turnaround times are updated weekly and made available on my Department’s website at www.dfa.ie/passport.While we are falling marginally behind our projected turnaround times for Passport Express applications, I believe the Passport Office is doing an impressive job considering the exceptionally high volumes of applications received in recent months.

The Online Passport Application Service which I launched on 30 March should assist in easing pressures in the coming months. The service allows adult citizens to renew their passports online twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, from wherever they are in the world. It offers considerable benefits in terms of convenience and a turnaround time of ten working days plus postage. In reality the majority of online applications are processed before this target.

Passport Express and the online renewal service are from now on the standard passport application processes. Most adult renewal applicants are eligible to use the online service. Given the considerable convenience and fast turnaround time it should be the default for all those who qualify. I urge all Deputies to encourage its use.

Subject to certain terms and conditions the Passport Service can facilitate applicants who need to travel at short notice by appointment at the Passport Offices in either Cork or Dublin. Those who wish to avail of this facility must make an appointment online at www.passportappointments.ie.

It is vital that passport applicants select the most appropriate application channel for their circumstances at the outset and I am grateful for the continued assistance of Deputies in advising their constituents. I would also ask Deputies to promote the free email renewal reminder service for all passports holders to help ensure that they apply in good time.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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366. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if mechanisms have been put in place to assist in processing passports in view of the increase in applications being received by the Passport Office; if so, the mechanisms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24124/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, there has been a surge in passport applications in recent months. From 1 January to the end of April almost 350,000 applications had been received, representing an increase of over 20% over the same period last year. This exceptional level of demand is likely to be sustained into the summer months and my Department has put a number of measures in place to handle the exceptional volumes of applications, including increased staffing and targeted overtime. The Passport Service has recruited almost 230 temporary clerical officers in response to the seasonal demand and the more general increase in passport applications. Staff have been assigned to the Passport Office in Balbriggan, Cork and to Mount Street, Dublin. The Passport Service has also been assigned a number of permanent clerical officers over recent months. Workloads are continually re-allocated between the three Passport Offices to optimise efficiency. We will continue to keep these measures under careful review to ensure that the impact of any further increase in demand on turnaround times and service is minimised. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently implementing a comprehensive passport reform programme. This encompasses a renewed and more flexible technology suite, new business processes and improved services to our applicants both at home and abroad.

The launch of the online passport application service for adult renewals on 30 March was a major milestone in the programme. It represents a very significant innovation in customer service as part of the Government’s “digital first” agenda to deliver public services online. Applicants can renew their passports from anywhere in the world via a personal computer or mobile device.

The introduction of online services allows the Passport Service to streamline the processing of adult renewal applications and removes a number of manual mechanisms including scanning and the physical transfer of paper-based passport application files. Digital applications can be processed significantly faster than paper-based applications.

The result for applicants is a faster and more predictable turnaround times and the efficiencies gained mean that more staffing resources can, over time, be redeployed towards the processing of the more complex applications, fraud and customer service. A strong take-up for online services will improve the capacity of the Passport Service to manage the large volume increases in applications that we have experienced over the past eighteen months.

I urge Deputies therefore to strongly encourage constituents who qualify to use the fast, convenient and secure online service. Applicants can renew their passports at any time and passport will be returned within two weeks plus time for postage.