Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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415. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he is taking to address long delays in waiting for passport applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41854/21]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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448. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current turnaround times for new passport applications and passport renewals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42501/21]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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455. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the passport express will open for applications; if the service will be able to provide the normal turnaround time for passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42639/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 415, 428, 448 and 455 together.

The Passport Service has received nearly 500,000 applications in 2021 to date, with approximately 110,000 under process. The current turnaround times are 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals, 15 working days for Complex renewals, 40 working days for First Time applications on Passport Online and 8 weeks for Passport Express for applications which have been completed correctly.

These turnaround times for online applications begins when all required supporting documentation is received by the Passport Service.  For reasons of integrity, the Passport Service is not in a position to process applications that are incomplete.  Such applications will inevitably encounter longer processing times.

First time applications for adults and children are extremely complex to process to ensure the identity of the applicant, their entitlement to Irish citizenship and, in the case of children, that all guardians have consented to the issuing of the passport. Particular complexity relates to the process of application from children born in Ireland after 2004 due to the need to verify entitlement for Irish citizenship.  

Customers are encouraged to contact our Customer Service Hub if they require assistance. The Passport Services continues to operate an emergency service for the priority cases.