Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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339. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the processing of non-urgent passport applications will recommence; the action his Department is taking to ensure that the backlog of applications resulting from the suspension of same will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22707/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Passport Service is well advanced in its preparations for scaling up to more normal operational levels, while complying with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”.

Passport Online will continue to be the priority given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The processing of an online application is four times as fast as a paper application. In addition, the use of Passport Online can facilitate social distancing, given that a renewal application for an adult does not require the signature of a witness.

It is important to acknowledge that the online service is extremely easy to use. It has won awards for its user-friendly process, including a NALA award for the use of plain English. It is recognised that some applicants may not be familiar with using a computer. However, in such cases, a friend or relative with basic computer skills can help them to apply – the process only takes ten minutes to complete.

Passport Online can be accessed by first time applicants, both children and adults, in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. All Irish citizens, including children, can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world.

The Passport Service has a great deal of experience in dealing with peaks in demand, and we are confident, taking into account measures to ensure a safe workplace, that any Passport Online backlog can be cleared in six to eight weeks.

The Passport Service plans to resume processing of paper based applications such as Foreign Birth Registration, Passport Express and Northern Ireland Passport Express once online applications have been processed.

In the event that any applicant has urgent or emergency reasons for requiring a passport, they should contact the Passport Service’s Customer Service Hub, by WebChat, to make the Passport Service aware of their situation.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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340. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration has been given to extending passports which have been issued during level 5 restrictions when international travel has not been permitted particularly for children’s passports which have a shorter expiry date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22716/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Discussions regarding travel documents have taken place at a European level, after which the European Commission decided not to recommend a coordinated extension of the validity of Member States' travel documents. Accordingly, there are no plans at present for the validity of passports to be extended beyond their expiry date.

The Passport Service is well advanced in its preparations for scaling up to more normal operational levels, while complying with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”.

In the event that any applicant has urgent or emergency reasons for requiring a passport, they should contact the Passport Service’s Customer Service Hub using the WebChat function on our website to make the Passport Service aware of their situation.