John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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95. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress being made on the expansion of new online passport application services; when these new services are expected to be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48128/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Passport Online service was first launched on 30 March 2017 to facilitate the online renewal of the majority of adult passport types. To date, over 288,000 adults have renewed their passport using the online service. I am pleased to inform you that the Passport Online service will be expanded at the end of this month to encompass online renewals for children.

In the interest of child protection and in order to ensure the highest level of integrity for the passport renewal process, the online renewal of a child’s passport will continue to require that a child’s identity is verified and that the consent of each of the child’s legal guardians is received before a passport is issued.

The Passport Service has developed a pre-populated Child Passport Identity and Consent Form which will be generated at the end of the online process. Guardians will be required to print this form, have the child’s identity verified by an appropriate witness, and have the consent of all guardians witnessed. Guardians will then need to submit the form, along with any other required documents to the Passport Service in order to commence the processing of the application. There is a significant list of appropriate witnesses who can complete both of these tasks.

Guardians who are renewing their child’s passport will also be able to apply for a passport card for their child for the first time. These cards will be valid for the same period as the child’s passport book and valid for travel in the EU/EEA and Switzerland.

The expanded service will also allow for other adult renewal categories such as those changing their name and those requiring an observation on their passport.

I would urge applicants wishing to renew their passports, whether residing in Ireland or overseas, to avail of the online service where possible.