Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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73. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passport applications being processed; the number of renewals and first-time passports respectively; the average processing time for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8840/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Passport Service provides a range of channels to Irish citizens wishing to apply for a passport, including a postal application system, online service, and through the network of Irish Missions worldwide. The Passport Service has received over 129,000 applications between 1 January and 16 February 2018, which represents an increase of 16% on the same period last year. In order to respond to seasonal demands and anticipated application increases, the Passport Service has received sanction for 210 Temporary Clerical Officers (“TCOs”) to be appointed to the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork this year. Training for the first intake of TCOs has already commenced, with a sizeable proportion already in place. All TCOs are expected to be fully trained and in place by the end of March at latest. The Passport Service is currently processing over 59,000 passport applications. These applications are going through the normal checking, processing and security stages.

Of these current applications, approximately 23,000 are for passport renewals while approximately 12,000 are first time applications. Some 24,000 are in the early stages of the application process and as such, the type of application has yet to be identified. The turnaround timeframe for processing these applications will depend in the first instance on the channel through which the application was submitted.

The target turnaround time for applications made via the Online Passport Renewal Service is 10 working days plus postage. The vast majority of online applications are currently being processed within 7 working days, well ahead of the target. At present, the online service only accommodates adult renewals and passport card applications. It is planned to further extend the online application facility to all citizens, including first-time applicants and children, by 2019.

The current average turnaround time for applications submitted through An Post Passport Express has now increased to 17 working days for both first time applications and renewals. It is expected that this turnaround time will return to the target turnaround time of 15 working day in the coming weeks, as more temporary staff are trained and placed.

The average turnaround time for postal applications submitted through the Passport Office in London is currently 4 weeks for renewals with a minimum of 7 weeks for first-time applications. Applicants resident in Great Britain also have the option of submitting Passport Express applications through two selected post offices in Liverpool and Glasgow, with applications submitted through this channel taking an average 17 working days to process.

Applications submitted through the worldwide network of Irish Embassies and Consulates are currently taking a minimum 6 weeks to process from the date the application is registered at the Passport Office. Delivery times will vary depending on the location of the applicant. I would urge applicants wishing to renew their passports who reside overseas, including Great Britain, to avail of the online passport renewal service where possible.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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74. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of credit card type passports issued in the past year; the average time for processing an application for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8841/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Passport Card was launched in October 2015 and offers Irish citizens the convenience of travel to 31 countries including the EU/EEA and Switzerland, with a credit card sized travel document. Applications for passport cards are processed exclusively through the Passport Online Service, accessible via my Department’s website at www.dfa.ie/passport. The target turnaround time for this channel is ten working days plus postage. The vast majority of passport card applications are being processed ahead of the target date.

Between 1 January 2017 and 18 February 2018, the Passport Service issued 44,482 passport cards. I would encourage all adult citizens who hold a valid passport to consider applying for a passport card.