John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

261. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25774/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update to the applicant's guardian as to the steps they must take to progress the passport application.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

263. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25776/22]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

293. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a passport will issue for a child (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that this application was received by the Passport Office on 8 February 2022 and the child has to travel with the child's parent to a funeral.. [25916/22]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

296. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will ensure that passports arrive on time in order that a family (details supplied) can travel by 14 June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26102/22]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

301. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application for a minor (details supplied) date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26185/22]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

305. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application for a minor (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26189/22]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

307. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application for a minor (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26191/22]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

308. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application for a minor (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26192/22]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

309. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application for a minor (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26193/22]

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

317. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 419 of 17 May 2022, if a passport will be expedited as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26308/22]

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

319. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if passport applications by persons (details supplied) will be expedited in time for planned travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26315/22]

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

320. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if passport applications by persons (details supplied) will be expedited in time for travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26318/22]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

322. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26321/22]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

331. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport for a child (details supplied) will issue on time for travel on 29 May 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26446/22]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

332. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport application will be processed in time for a person (details supplied) who is travelling on 24 May 2022 to the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26447/22]

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

335. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be examined and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26450/22]

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

336. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will examine and expedite two linked passport applications (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26452/22]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

339. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that this application was received in the Passport Office on 14 March 2022 and the estimated date has passed.. [26467/22]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

347. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will urgently provide an update on the passport applications of persons (details supplied) which are currently one month overdue based on the online tracking form and that are needed for flights on 1 June 2022. [26556/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 263, 293, 296, 301, 305, 307 to 309, inclusive, 317, 319, 320, 322, 331, 332, 335, 336, 339 and 347 together.

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

271. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25784/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update to the applicant as to the steps they must take to progress their passport application.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

275. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passport applications that have been received through the passport express service from January 2022 to date; the number that are waiting to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25859/22]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

276. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current turnaround time for processing passport applications made through the passport express service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25860/22]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

277. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the length of time that it is currently taking to process additional documentation for passport applications made through the passport express service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25861/22]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

278. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures that he is taking to address the backlog of processing passport applications that have been made through the passport express service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25862/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 275, 276, 277 and 278 together.

The paper-based, mail-in Passport Express service is available to citizens at almost 1,000 An Post post offices and at over 70 post office locations in Northern Ireland. The Passport Service also receives a small number of paper-based applications through our network of embassies and consulates across the world. All paper-based applications are processed through the centralised automated passport service system, regardless of the channel through which they are made.

The Passport Service has received 60,000 paper-based applications since 1^stJanuary 2022. Of these, 43,000 are Passport Express applications made by persons residing in the State.

There are currently 35,000 paper-based applications in the Passport Service system. Of these, 29,000 are fully complete and are being processed by the Passport Service. A further 6,500 applications are incomplete, which means the Passport Service is waiting on the applicant to submit required supporting documents.  

The target turnaround time for Passport Express applications is 8 weeks. When an applicant is requested to submit additional supporting documents, these documents are prioritised upon receipt by the Passport Service, and the Passport Service then aims to process the application within 15 working days.

The Passport Service provides a range of channels to Irish citizens worldwide who wish to apply for a passport. These include a postal application system, online passport application service, in person counter application facilities at the passport offices in Dublin, Cork and London, and the network of Irish Missions worldwide.

Some 90% of all passport applications, including first-time applications, are now being made online. The Passport Service is committed to continuing to offer a range of application channels, including a mail-in, paper-based service for citizens who are not eligible or do not wish to use online passport services. Passport Online is the priority channel for applications as there are many efficiencies built into the system for the applicant and the Passport Service. The Passport Online service can be accessed by all first-time applicants, including children and adults, in over 50 countries worldwide. All Irish citizens, including children, can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world. Passport Online offers Irish citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is a user-friendly, efficient service that consistently offers processing times up to four times faster than the paper-based passport renewal application system.

While there is a very high volume of applications in the Passport Service system, this does not represent a backlog. These applications are all being processed in the usual way, with a continuous stream of new applications and a continuous dispatch of completed passports happening every day.

The Passport Service is proactively managing the current demand for passports and has put in place resources and structures to address the estimated significant increase in demand for passports in 2022 in this essential citizen service.

The Passport Service has been scaling up resources to deal with anticipated demand since June of last year. A major recruitment drive, in partnership with the Public Appointments Service, has been underway over the past several months. This has seen the number of Passport Service staff increase by 344 since June 2021.

In addition, the Passport Service is currently running its own recruitment competition for Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs). The interviews have concluded and TCOs recruited from this competition are being assigned on a weekly basis from Monday, 23 May. The first group of 20 new TCOs started work on Monday, 23 May. This recruitment effort will bring staffing numbers at the Passport Service to over 900 which represents double the number of staff with the Passport Service in June of last year.

Intensive training of new staff and upskilling of existing staff has been underway for several months to increase the resources that can process complex applications, such as first time child applications.

The Passport Service continues to implement further measures to deal with increased demand on its services:

-The Passport Service has a comprehensive plan to ensure that adequate staff, accommodation and technology supports are in place to meet expected demand for passports in 2022

-The Passport Service is prioritising first time applications and directing increased resources to processing these complex applications with a view to reducing the current turnaround time. Passport Service staff are working targeted overtime in this regard.

-The Urgent Appointment Service is available for customers who wish to renew their passport at short notice. Customers availing of this service can renew their passport within 1 or 4 days in Dublin, within 4 days in Cork and within 5 days in London.

-A new document management system was put in place at the beginning of March. This aims to improve the processing speed in the Passport Service offices, and subsequent turnaround times for the applicant. One particular feature of the new system improves the processing time for applicants who have been asked to submit additional documents. Once the additional documents are received, they are being prioritised and complete applications can then be processed in 3 weeks. This significantly reduces the processing time, particularly for first time applicants.

-Public information media campaigns reminding citizens to check and renew their passports will continue during this busy year.

-There is an updated Department of Foreign Affairs website, which includes a new passport service section where applicants can easily find out what additional documents are required for their type of application.

-The Passport Service is also working on public education materials, including video tutorials, with a view to assisting applicants to complete their application correctly. These videos will be shared on social media and will include instructions on submitting consent forms for child applications properly.

Since March of this year, the Passport Service has reduced the processing time for first-time applications from 40 working days to 30. This 25% reduction in processing times is a direct result of the substantial level of investment my Department has made in the service. 

I am confident that the measures that have been implemented will help to reduce passport turnaround times in the course of 2022 and will assist the Passport Service in meeting the high demand forecast for this year.

I strongly urge anyone who is considering travelling overseas this year, particularly families with young children, to check the validity of their passports before booking travel and to apply for their passports online in plenty of time.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

283. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff working in the Passport Office each month since January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25871/22]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

284. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are plans to increase resources in the Passport Office ahead of the summer holiday season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25872/22]

Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

294. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department will recruit more staff to deal with the influx of passport applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26012/22]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

315. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of whole-time equivalent staff currently employed in the Passport Office by role in tabular form. [26302/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 283, 284, 294 and 315 together.

The Passport Service is proactively managing the current demand for passports and has put in place resources and structures to address the estimated significant increase in demand for passports in 2022 in this essential citizen service.

The Passport Service has been scaling up resources to deal with anticipated demand since June of last year. A major recruitment drive, in partnership with the Public Appointments Service, has been underway over the past several months. This has seen the number of Passport Service staff increase by 344 since June 2021.

In addition, the Passport Service is currently running its own recruitment competition for Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs). The interviews have concluded and TCOs recruited from this competition are being assigned on a weekly basis from Monday, 23 May. The first group of 20 new TCOs started work on Monday, 23 May. This recruitment effort will bring staffing numbers at the Passport Service to over 900 which represents double the number of staff with the Passport Service in June of last year.

Intensive training of new staff and upskilling of existing staff has been underway for several months to increase the resources that can process complex applications, such as first time child applications.

The Passport Service continues to implement further measures to deal with increased demand on its services:

- The Passport Service has a comprehensive plan to ensure that adequate staff, accommodation and technology supports are in place to meet expected demand for passports in 2022.

- The Passport Service is prioritising first time applications and directing increased resources to processing these complex applications with a view to reducing the current turnaround time. Passport Service staff are working targeted overtime in this regard.

- The Urgent Appointment Service is available for customers who wish to renew their passport at short notice. Customers availing of this service can renew their passport within 1 or 4 days in Dublin, within 4 days in Cork and within 5 days in London.

- A new document management system was put in place at the beginning of March. This aims to improve the processing speed in the Passport Service offices, and subsequent turnaround times for the applicant. One particular feature of the new system improves the processing time for applicants who have been asked to submit additional documents. Once the additional documents are received, they are being prioritised and complete applications can then be processed in 3 weeks. This significantly reduces the processing time, particularly for first time applicants.

- Public information media campaigns reminding citizens to check and renew their passports will continue during this busy year.

- There is an updated Department of Foreign Affairs website, which includes a new passport service section where applicants can easily find out what additional documents are required for their type of application.

- The Passport Service is also working on public education materials, including video tutorials, with a view to assisting applicants to complete their application correctly. These videos will be shared on social media and will include instructions on submitting consent forms for child applications properly.

Since March of this year, the Passport Service has reduced the processing time for first-time applications from 40 working days to 30. This 25% reduction in processing times is a direct result of the substantial level of investment my Department has made in the service.

I am confident that the measures that have been implemented will help to further reduce passport turnaround times in the course of 2022 and will assist the Passport Service in meeting the high demand forecast for this year.

I strongly urge anyone who is considering travelling overseas this year, particularly families with young children, to check the validity of their passports before booking travel and to apply for their passports online in plenty of time.

The number of staff working in the Passport Office each month since January 2021 is outlined below in tabular form.

Passport Service staff numbers by month

The number of Passport staff by role are outlined below in tabular form. Of the total 725 staff, 636 are full-time staff and 89 are part-time.

Passport Service staff by role

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

285. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the process that Dáil Deputies should follow in respect of making representations to him regarding expediting passport applications; if he or his officials have communicated the process to officials in the Passport Office; the extent to which officials who work on the Houses of the Oireachtas representation phone line are aware of the process given that inconsistent information is being advised to Members by officials in respect of queried applications; and the steps that he is taking to ensure that accurate and consistent information is communicated. [25876/22]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

311. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of whole-time equivalent staff members currently working on the Oireachtas passport query telephone line. [26298/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 311 together.

Members of the Oireachtas, as elected representatives, can make formal representations to me in relation to the passport applications by submitting enquiries directly to my office.

In addition to this formal representation channel, in October 2021, the Passport Service established a temporary phone line to respond to Oireachtas Members' queries on urgent passport cases.

In each case raised by an Oireachtas Member, whether it be as a formal representation or a phone call through the Oireachtas line, the Passport Service reviews the application in question. However, applications can only be expedited in cases of genuine emergency such as a need for urgent medical treatment overseas or the death of a family member abroad. Such applications are expedited through the Travel Emergency service.

In cases where the estimated issue-by date has passed and all required supporting documents have been submitted, the Passport Service will prioritise the application to ensure that no further delay is experienced.

Passport applicants can also track the status of their passport application online via the Passport Tracker which is available on my Department's website - www.dfa.ie/passporttracking/. The information on the tracker has recently been upgraded, and is an excellent guide as to where an application is in the system.

Passport Service staff on the Oireachtas Line receive comprehensive general Passport Service training, as well as customer service training. Staff provide assistance within the agreed parameters as set out in my communication to Oireachtas colleagues on 19 October 2021.

Staff on the Oireachtas Line continue to work productively under increasing pressure. They are dealing with record numbers of calls and queries every week and have handled over 12,200 queries from Members since the beginning of this year.

The Passport Service Oireachtas Line team currently consists of one team lead and six customer service officers.