Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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195. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a family who has applied for a passport for their child (details supplied) can expect to receive the passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18055/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In line with Government guidance that at Level 5 of the National Framework on Living with COVID-19 only essential work should take place, the Passport Service continues to provide a high-quality essential service in line with Government measures to reduce social contact and combat the spread of COVID-19.

This essential service is available for those who are required to travel due to the death or serious illness of a family member or meet the criteria for a reasonable excuse for travel as defined in the recent amendment to the Health Act 1947, which came into effect on 1 February 2021. Supporting documentation will be required for such cases.

In order to facilitate the return of travel documents which may have been submitted in support of a passport application, all documents will be registered so that they can be returned for emergency travel or for travel with a reasonable excuse.

Applicants who require a passport for emergency purposes, or for non-essential travel with a reasonable excuse, should contact the Passport Service via our Customer Service Hub Webchat function on our website.

Irish citizens who are resident overseas should make contact through the local Irish Embassy or Consulate General.

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has inquired, an official from the Passport Service was in contact with the applicant's father on 30 March to provide an update on the status of the passport application.