Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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130. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the Foreign Births Register will reopen; the length of the backlog; the length of time he expects it will take to clear it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26821/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The processing of Foreign Births Registration (FBR) applications has been temporarily paused as a result of COVID-19 related restrictions.

Prior to this pause, it took twelve to eighteen months to process applications. This was due to the complex nature of FBR applications, the very high volume of applications due to Brexit and exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19 restrictions.

The Passport Service is examining how to optimally address the FBR applications on hand, and any delays that have been experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are regretted. We expect to have an update on this later in the summer.