Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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244. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason a passport application (details supplied) was with the passport office for 65 working days before it was checked; the reason the applicants’ parents are now being informed it will be over five and half months to process this first-time application; if the passport will be returned as they require it for travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58056/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant's parent. The parent's passport has been returned as requested

The passport processing times apply to passport applications that are fully complete, where all required supporting documentation has been correctly submitted to the Passport Service by the applicant. Applications can take longer than the average turnaround time if applicants have not provided all of the required documentation to correctly complete their application.

The Passport Service is attaching particular priority to the nearly 7% of online applications that have not been issued on or before the estimated issue date that was indicated to the applicant. Intensive work is underway to eliminate this problem and these delays are regretted very much by the Service.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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245. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58069/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued a passport to the applicant.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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246. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason there is no provision within the Passport Office for persons with hearing difficulties or that are profoundly deaf to communicate by telephone (details supplied). [58082/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs recognizes the right of Irish Sign Language users to use Irish Sign Language as their native language in accordance with the Irish Sign Language Act 2017.

The Passport Service, as a public office, has a number of staff members who are available to interpret with members of the public availing of its passport services. A member of the public who may require the assistance of an Irish Sign Language Interpreter during an appointment at the public office can indicate this when booking their appointment online. A dedicated member of staff will be available to interpret and assist during their appointment.

Passport Customer Service is available Monday to Friday, from 9am to 4:30pm by WebChat on my Department's website (www.dfa.ie/passports). The WebChat facility offers all customers live interaction with customer service officers who can advise on matters relating to the passport application process.

Customers can also contact my Department's Disability Inquiry Officer via the website (www.dfa.ie/about-us/contact-us/) and their case will be communicated to the Passport Service who can facilitate their request.

In order to safeguard the privacy of customers, the Passport Service must obtain explicit consent from a passport applicant before relaying information regarding their application to a third party.

In the absence of any identifying details in this case, the Passport Service is unable to comment further on the specific incident raised by the Deputy and regrets if any inconvenience has been caused. The Passport Service would be happy to contact the customer involved directly for further follow up.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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247. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the passport application of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58106/21]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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248. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the passport application of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58107/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together.

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport applications to the applicants' parent.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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249. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason an online adult passport renewal application by a person (details supplied) has been allocated an estimated issue date of 40 working days on the passport tracking service when it should be renewed within ten days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58116/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the applicant applied for a first time passport when completing the application form online. The estimated issue date given is in line with processing times for first time applications.