Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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284. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of first-time child passport applications that were actually processed fully within eight weeks providing details on a monthly basis for 2021 in tabular form; the number of applications processed thereafter in weekly time increments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59066/21]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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285. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the percentage of passport applications that are actually processed and dispatched within the current turnaround times listed on the website, providing figures on a weekly basis for the past six-month period; if there are plans to amend those timelines to ensure more accurate information to applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59068/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together.

Passport Service operations have been severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as were many Government services. Notwithstanding this, the Passport Service has issued over half a million passports to date in 2021 and 45% of simple adult renewals issue within one business day.

The current passport processing times are:

- 10 working days for Simple Adult online renewals

- 15 working days for Complex or child online renewals

- 40 working days for First Time Applications on Passport Online

- 8 weeks for An Post’s mail-in “Passport Express” service

The aforementioned passport processing times are based on current average application turnaround times and relate to passport applications submitted to the Passport Service with required supporting documentation. When passport applicants do not provided all of the requisite documentation to the Passport Service, it takes much longer to process the application and issue a passport.

With regard to the specific information requested by the Deputy, the Passport Service systems do not currently allow us to provide this level of detail. This is because elements of an application are reset when documentation which was incorrect or not submitted with the application are requested and subsequently received. However, the deputy can be assured that the Passport Service is attaching particular priority to the nearly 7% of online applications which have not been issued on or before estimated issue date which was indicated to the applicant. Intensive work is underway to eliminate these delays which are very much regretted by the Service.

Most recent Passport Service figures show that 35% of online applications are incomplete and the onus is on the applicant to submit the required documents to the Service. The Passport Service contacts applicants who have not submitted the requisite documentation. However, the Passport Service must wait in those cases until the applicants submit the outstanding documentation that is required. While the Passport Service makes every effort to contact applicants in such circumstances, their experience is that many applicants take weeks and sometimes months to send in the necessary documents.

The Passport Service is currently experiencing a high demand for first time passports. These first time applications are necessarily complex to process, since they are essentially applications for Irish citizenship. The Passport Service must validate the true identity of the applicant and take measures to confirm the applicant’s entitlement to Irish citizenship. It is the statutory responsibility of the Passport Service to protect the integrity of the Irish passport. Accordingly, a rigorous analysis process is in place to verify the identity and citizenship status of applicants.

In the case of first time passport applications for children, the consent of guardians must also be thoroughly validated. Due to the intensive analysis underpinning first time online passport applications processing time is 40 working days.

Resourcing the Passport Service is of the highest priority for my Department who are actively working with the Public Appointments Service to recruit both permanent and temporary staff between now and the end of January 2022. This will double the number of staff from June levels to a total of 920 staff by the end of January. I am confident that these additional resources will help to improve customer experience and reduce turnaround times. to respond to current and anticipated high demand for passports in 2022

The Passport Service continually examines how to improve processing times and engagement with applicants. Preparation is currently underway for several system and service improvements that will enhance the customer service experience and will improve processing times. These improvements will be rolled out in the coming weeks and months.

In the context of the National Development Plan, my Department is making a major investment in the future of the Passport Service. Over the next couple of years, we will replace the core technology underpinning the service, which will deliver efficiencies and a more resilient passport system.

Budget 2022 also included an investment of an additional €10m in passport services in response to the increasing demand for passports both at home and abroad.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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286. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason a child (details supplied) of an Irish citizen had their passport application cancelled after 11 months of supplying documents to the passport office [59070/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Operations of the Passport Office were severely disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, as were many other government services. Due to Level 5 restrictions, between January and May of this year, the Passport Service offered emergency passport services only.

First time passport applications are necessarily complex to process, since they are essentially applications for Irish citizenship. The Passport Service must validate the true identity of the applicant and take measures to confirm the applicant’s entitlement to Irish citizenship. It is the statutory responsibility of the Passport Service to protect the integrity of the Irish passport. Accordingly, a rigorous analysis process is in place to verify the identity and citizenship status of applicants.

In the case of first time passport applications for children, the consent of all guardians must also be thoroughly validated. Verification of consent of all guardians is vital to protecting the integrity of the passport itself and the rights of the child and its guardians.

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy is enquiring, this application was submitted shortly before Passport Service operations were disrupted by necessary public health restrictions. Once operations scaled up again in line with easing of public health restrictions, the Passport Service made multiple attempts to verify the consent of the applicant's parent who was resident overseas. Unfortunately, staff were unable to verify the consent of the overseas parent in this case and the passport application had come to the point where it had expired. I encourage the applicant's parent to apply for their child's passport again, once all supporting documents and consent forms are fully complete and verifiable.