Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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97. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress that has been made with regard to passport services in 2022. [57747/22]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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102. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of passport applications and processing times at present; the number of applications processed to date in 2022; the number outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57561/22]

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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118. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the average wait time for each type of passport application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57514/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 102 and 118 together.

Earlier this month, the Passport Service issued its 1 millionth passport of 2022. This represents the first time in the history of the State that over one million passports have been issued in a calendar year. The Passport Service has surpassed its previous busiest ever year, 2019, when 935,000 passports were issued. 

Thanks to significant investment by the Government and the dedicated work of the Passport Service staff, substantial improvements have been made this year and full, normal service has resumed. All processing times for online applications have now returned to normal pre-Covid processing times.

The processing time for online first time applications has halved from 40 working days in March of this year to 20 working days. Over 99% of all online renewal applications are processed within the standard turnaround times. 84% of online adult renewal applications are being processed in 3 working days or less. 46% of online child renewal applications are processed within 3 working days or less.

Currently, 100% of calls and 95% of webchats are being answered by the Customer Service Hub and customers can easily access the information they need through the Hub. In addition, my Department is implementing a staffing plan to ensure that excellent customer service is maintained during future periods of peak demand.

The Department ran 15 competitions in 2021 and 2022 to address staffing needs in the Passport Service. New office space on the Balbriggan campus is now open and provides over 200 additional workstations to accommodate the increase in staff numbers. This brings the total capacity of the Balbriggan campus up to 500 workstations.

Passport Online is available to all applicants across the globe for renewal applications. This year saw the further expansion of Passport Online for first time applicants across the globe and this is now available to first time applicants in over 50 countries.

Over 90% of applicants now apply through Passport Online. The Passport Communications Campaign for Winter 2022 - Spring 2023 will focus on highlighting the benefits of the Digital First approach for passport applications.

The current processing times are outlined below:

Online adult renewal - 10 working days

Online child/complex renewal - 15 working days

Online first time application - 20 working days 

Post Passport via An Post - 8 weeks

The Passport Service has issued 1,025,742 passports to date this year. There are currently 25,203 fully complete applications in the Passport Service system, the vast majority of which will issue well within agreed turnaround times.