Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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129. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of online, over-the-counter and postal passport applications, respectively, issued from the date on which the online option went live; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29217/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Online Passport Renewal Service was launched on March 30 2017. Since its launch, 545,542 passports have been issued on foot of online applications.

During the same time period, a total of 92,934 passports were issued on foot of applications submitted through the public counter at the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork and 1,155,458 passports were issued on foot of applications submitted through postal application channels, including applications via Ireland’s network of missions overseas.

The Online Passport Renewal Service brings significant benefits to citizens, including faster turnaround times, a user-friendly application process, and a reduced application fee.

The Online Passport Renewal Service is part of the ongoing passport reform process. This programme is delivering major upgrades to passport service technology platforms and business processes as well as making significant customer service improvements to the Passport Service. It is envisaged that as part of this reform the online application process will be rolled out to first-time applicants by 2021.

From January to June this year, the Passport Service has seen a 10.1% increase in passport applications compared to the same six-month period in 2018. 45% of all applications received in the first six months of this year have been online applications. In this period, 62% of all those eligible to use the online renewal service have chosen this option. This compares to 31% for the same time period in 2018.

A strong take-up of online services will greatly improve the capacity of the Passport Service to manage increasing application volumes. Efficiencies gained mean that staff resources can be redeployed towards the processing of more complex applications, protecting the integrity of the Irish passport and enhancing the customer service we offer to citizens.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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130. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passports issued by office location outside Ireland in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29218/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Irish citizens living overseas can submit their passport application via Ireland's network of Embassies and Consulates overseas. The following table outlines the number of passport applications made via each Embassy or Consulate for the years requested. Many Irish Embassies have accreditation for other countries and provide passport services for Irish citizens for more than one country.

The figures cited do not include passports issued to Irish citizens residing overseas who applied for their passports through the Online Passport Renewal Service. The Online Passport Renewal Service was launched in March 2017 and allows citizens residing anywhere in the world to submit their passport renewal application online.

* to June 30 2019.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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131. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passports issued since the Brexit referendum in the UK under criteria (details supplied) in respect of persons resident in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29219/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008. The Passports Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him or her. Entitlement to Irish citizenship is governed by Irish law and in particular the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, under which and in general, Irish citizenship may be obtained, inter alia, by birth on the island of Ireland to parents meeting specified requirements.

Since 23 June 2016, the number of passports issued to Irish citizens resident in Northern Ireland is 290,346.