Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff permanently employed by my Department and currently assigned to the Passport Service is 322. In addition, the Passport Service has received sanction for 210 Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs) this year to respond the seasonal demand for passports, which is normally between February and September annually. All sections in the Passport Service are monitored closely to ensure they are sufficiently resourced to meet demand. The number of these Passport Service staff working on the online passport application service varies depending on the volume in the system. The Deputy should be aware, however, that in addition to the team processing these applications, staff assigned to other duties such as those in the Communications Unit deal with queries arising in connection with all passport applications, including queries from online passport applicants. The cost of running the Passport Service in 2017 was €33.7 million. This figure excludes accommodation costs as any properties occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the State are rented and maintained by the Office of Public Works. The figure includes the Passport Reform Programme which is delivering major upgrades to the passport service technology platforms and business processes as well as significant customer service improvements.