Written answers

Thursday, 29 April 2021

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Passport Data

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

50. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of renewal passports processed and issued through Irish embassies and consulates in 2020 and to date in 2021. [22441/21]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The approximate number of paper renewal applications received through our Embassies and Consulates General in 2020 and to date in 2021 is set out in the table below.

Year Total
2020 3,100
2021 70

The figures for 2021 are accurate to 26 April.

All passport applications are processed by the Passport Service in Ireland. The Passport Service introduced online renewal of adult passports in 2017 and expanded this service in 2018 to include the renewal of child passports. All Irish citizens, including children, can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world.

I encourage all applicants to apply via the Passport Online service which has won awards for its user-friendly process, including a NALA award for the use of plain English. If an applicant is not familiar with using a computer, a friend or relative with basic computer skills can help them to apply online – the process only takes ten minutes to complete. Passport Online can also facilitate social distancing, given that a renewal application for an adult is a paperless process and does not require the signature of a witness.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.