John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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71. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason for ending the requirement for a public services card for applications to the Passport Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38805/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Since March 29 2016, the Passport Service has required all first time passport applicants, aged 18 and above, who are resident in Ireland to submit a copy of their Public Services Card (PSC) with their passport application. This requirement also applies to adult applicants whose most recent passport has expired more than five years previously and to adult applicants whose passport was issued before 1 January 2006 and has been reported as lost, stolen or damaged.

Upholding the integrity of the Irish Passport is a key commitment of the Passport Service and the Passport Service believes that the presentation of the PSC is an important means of identity verification for applicants, particularly adult applicants making first time applications.

The PSC is the most efficient way for an applicant to verify their identify and ensure that their application can be processed quickly. The Passport Service will continue to accept a copy of an applicant’s PSC as valid identification for first time adult applications and other applicable categories of application.

In circumstances where the applicant does not present their PSC, an application can proceed if an applicant either presents original Government-issued photographic identification, such as a driver’s licence or a passport from another country, or attends for interview in person at the Passport Offices in Cork or Dublin.