Written answers

Thursday, 7 July 2022

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Passport Services

Photo of Michael LowryMichael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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208. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to increase the accuracy of the passport tracking service online to show real-time data of each actual step of the application process; if processing applications actually means that the application is only received should the track reflect this real-time accurate information; if an application is in a queue to get seen by a checker if the passport tracker can inform applicants of this and the status to reflect online with a checker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36787/22]

Photo of Michael LowryMichael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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209. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason that some passport applications are not registering correctly on the passport online tracking service; if he will ensure that all passport applications are registered correctly on the tracker system given that inaccurate information on the online tracker system causes confusion and additional unwarranted stress to applicants and causes additional unnecessary calls to the Passport Office customer service team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36788/22]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together.

Passport applicants can 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 available on the Tracker has recently been upgraded and is an excellent guide as to where an application is in the system.

The online Passport Tracker tool provides applicants with an indication of how their application is progressing through the system and gives an estimated issue date based on the current average application processing time. The tracker is updated every two hours between 7am and 7pm.

When tracking their application using the online tracker tool, applicants will receive updates that relate to the current status of their application, such as:

- Application has been received.

- Application has been received. Applicant must submit supporting documents to proceed with the application.

- Supporting documents have been received and are being verified.

- Application is being processed

- There is a problem with the application. An email has been sent to the applicant.

- Passport is being printed.

- Passport has been dispatched.

The “processing application” stage on the Tracker covers the period of time from when supporting documents have been received and verified by the Passport Service until the application is approved. During some of that period the application is in a queue waiting to be reviewed.

On a recent occasion, during the week of 13 June 2022, the Passport Service experienced technical issues with the Tracker, resulting in the registration of some online applications being delayed. These issues were identified as soon as possible and the affected applications have now been updated on the Tracker. The Tracker is now operating as normal.

The Passport Service operates an award-winning online service, which compares favourably with countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. The recent service improvements implemented by the Passport Service are enhancing the efficient and effective delivery of this essential citizen service. While there are no current plans to update the online Passport Tracker, the Passport Service will continue to consider ways to enhance further the customer experience for citizens, in particular through its ongoing programme of reform.

Photo of James LawlessJames Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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210. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will expedite a passport application for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36810/22]

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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213. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and applicant’s travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36850/22]

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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215. 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 applicant’s travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36864/22]

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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218. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and applicant’s travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36936/22]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 210, 213, 215 and 218 together.

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, these applications are within the current turnaround times and have not yet reached their issue by date.

Photo of James LawlessJames Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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211. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport application (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36814/22]

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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212. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and applicant’s travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36848/22]

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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214. 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 applicant’s travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36863/22]

Photo of Michael McNamaraMichael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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216. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application for a child (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and applicant’s travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36904/22]

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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219. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and applicant's travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36940/22]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 211, 212, 214, 216 and 219 together.

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

Photo of Michael McNamaraMichael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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217. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport application for a person (details supplied) will be processed on time for an intended travel date of 13 July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36913/22]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update as to the steps they must take to progress their passport application.

Photo of Gary GannonGary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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220. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport application for a child (details supplied) will be issued on time given that they are due to travel in one weeks’ time. [36966/22]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon 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 reviewed the application and progressed as appropriate.

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