Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

47. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff working on processing applications to the foreign birth register for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; the reason for any fluctuations in the number of staff employed in the foreign birth register section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31054/22]

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

123. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff members who are dealing with queries from Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas through the dedicated Oireachtas urgent query service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31236/22]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 123 together.

The processing of Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) has resumed and will be gradually scaling up in line with the recruitment of additional resources. Due to the impact of Covid-19, Foreign Birth Registration Service was paused for nearly 15 months across the 2020-2021 period. Due to the complex nature of the FBR process, the large increase in applications received following the Brexit vote in the UK, and the pause in the Service due to necessary Covid-19 restrictions, applicants should allow over two years from the receipt of supporting documentation for processing of FBR applications at this time. 

As can be seen in the figures provided below, the number of staff assigned to processing FBR applications in 2020 was impacted by the suspension of the service and subsequent reassignment of staff to consular duties in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, a number of FBR staff were reassigned to passport duties as demand for passport applications increased. In 2022, staff continued to be reassigned to passport duties in response to the unprecedented increase in demand seen by the Passport Service in recent months. 

My Department is fully committed to the continued allocation of additional resources over the coming period to assist with the processing of the Foreign Birth Registration applications currently on hand and the high volume of new applications anticipated this year.

A major recruitment drive has been underway over the past several months, which has seen over 400 new staff members join the Passport Service since June 2021. The Passport Service is currently running its own recruitment competition for Temporary Clerical Officers. Over 70 officers have been assigned to the Passport Service from this competition in recent weeks. It is anticipated that some of these resources will be allocated to the provision of FBR Services as the current high level of passport demand reduces.

The information requested by Deputy Lowry is outlined below in tabular form.

In October 2021, the Passport Service established a temporary phone line to respond to Oireachtas Members' queries on urgent passport cases.

There are currently 10 staff assigned to the Oireachtas Urgent Query Service team, along with one team lead and one officer carrying out administrative tasks. 

Since 23 May, up to 20 queries per week from each Oireachtas Member can be facilitated by this team.

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 17,500 queries from Members since the beginning of this year.

In each case raised by an Oireachtas Member, 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.

Non-urgent cases should continue to be dealt with through the existing phone lines and web chat facilities. Passport applications that are being processed in line with their turnaround times cannot be expedited. Where the estimated issue-by date has been exceeded this will result in a query being raised internally in the Passport Service. The Passport Service will work to issue a passport or respond to a request for further information to the customer within two working days.

While Deputies often hear of the most complex and pressing cases, the overwhelming majority of passport applicants have their passport processed without any recourse to their local TD. 

Passport Service staff assigned to processing Foreign Birth Registration applications