Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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34. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the turnaround time for passport applications processed through the Cork passport office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3647/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Passport Service located in my Department is one unified service composed of 3 constituent offices in Dublin (Balbriggan and Mount Street) and Cork. The distribution of work across the 3 passport offices does not impact on members of the public or in any way limit the options available to the public in terms of passport application channels. Under the current distribution of tasks across the Service, all Passport Express applications are now processed in the Balbriggan office, while the Cork office processes applications from Northern Ireland and Great Britain, as well as applications submitted at Ireland’s network of Embassies and Consulates worldwide. Online passport renewal applications are processed in the Mount Street office. The Mount Street and Cork public offices also continue to accept applications from all categories of applicants, by appointment, at the public counter and, where appropriate, facilitate the issuance of emergency passports. The processing times for all applications is updated weekly on the Passport Service website www.dfa.ie/passporttracking/turnaroundtimes/.

The Online Passport Renewal Service is available for adult Irish citizens renewing their passport and is available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week from anywhere in the world. The target turnaround time for Online Passport Renewal applications is 10 days plus postage – online applications are currently being processed and completed well below this deadline.

The Passport Service aims to process applications for renewal of passports submitted via Passport Express within 15 working days. The current turnaround times for both renewal and first time applications submitted through Passport Express is within our target timeframe at 15 working days. Northern Ireland Passport Express renewal applications are currently being processed in 13 working days, with first time applications and those with lost/stolen passports processed in 15 working days.

The average processing time for renewal applications from Great Britain is 21 working days, while first time applicants and those with lost/stolen passports are currently being processed in 31 working days. Applications submitted via Ireland’s network of Embassies and Consulates abroad are currently being processed in 29 working days.

Different categories of applications take longer to process, due to additional checks and/or additional time in transit, such as first time applicants, those applying via overseas Embassies and Consulates as well as those with lost/stolen passports.

The Passport Service monitors demand and resources on an ongoing basis and continues to takes all possible steps to ensure an effective service to the public.

The majority of applications submitted at the Cork public counter are from applicants travelling inside 15 working days. Depending on travel needs, these applications are generally processed within 3 – 10 working days.

The Passport Service strongly advises all applicants to check their passport when making travel plans, to check the Passport Service website www.dfa.ie/passport for the most appropriate channel through which to submit their application and to allow a minimum of 6 weeks when applying for their passport.