David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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174. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of personnel employed in the Passport Office in March 2022; the number currently employed in the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15797/23]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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175. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passport applications received by the Passport Office each month from September 2022 to February 2023 inclusive; the number of applications processed in each of those months; the current average processing times for each application type; the total number of applications currently awaiting processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15798/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 175 together.

The Passport Service is is successfully meeting the current high demand for passports. All turnaround times are at their target level and there are no backlogs. Over 275,000 passports have been issued to date in 2023. The busy season for passports in 2023 is underway, and demand forecasts indicate that the Passport Service will issue just under 1.1 million passports this year.

Thanks to significant investment by the Government and the dedicated work of the Passport Service staff, substantial improvements were made in 2022 and full, normal service was restored following disruptions to the service during the pandemic.

The Passport Service has implemented operational and staffing plans for 2023 and as a result it is successfully meeting demand.

My Department has run 16 competitions since 2021 to address staffing needs in the Passport Service and another is currently underway. Adequate staffing remains a priority and recruitment will continue in the coming months. Additional office space on the Balbriggan campus provides over 200 additional workstations to accommodate the increase in staff numbers. This brings the total capacity of the Balbriggan campus to 500 workstations. In March 2022 there were 727 staff in the Passport Service. There are currently 828 staff in the Passport Service.

Currently, 100% of calls are being answered by the Customer Service Hub and the staffing plan for 2023 aims to ensure that excellent customer service is maintained during periods of peak demand.

There are currently 69,850 fully complete applications in the Passport Service system. There are a further 68,925 applications that are awaiting further action by the applicant.

The current processing times are as follows:

Online simple adult renewal - 10 working days

Online child/complex adult renewal - 15 working days

Online first time application, adult or child - 20 working days

Post Passport via An Post, adult or child - 8 weeks

The number of passport applications received by the Passport Service in each month from September 2022 to February 2023 are outlined below in tabular form, along with the number of applications processed in each of these months.

I am confident that the staffing and accommodation measures implemented, along with other improvements, will continue to have a positive impact on passport processing times for 2023.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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176. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration has been given to notifying passport holders that their current passport will expire within a certain period for example, six months, thereby prompting renewal applications in a timely manner. [15848/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Each year the Passport Service proactively plans for the demand forecasted for the following year. Part of this planning involves a public communications strategy carried out by my Department, with a view to ensuring passport demand is manageable throughout the year, by encouraging citizens to apply in plenty of time for their passport prior to travel.

The 2022 communications campaign for passports ran throughout the year over print, broadcast and digital mediums, as well as stadium, event and airport advertising. It included advertisements in national and local radio, as well as advertisements in national press and social media. My Department also issued a press release at the end of 2022, which contained a reminder to citizens to check the validity of their passports and to renew if required. This press release received significant coverage across national media.

My Department has rolled out a similar media and communications campaign for 2023, with a Digital First focus. The campaign aims to encourage citizens to check their passport before booking travel, and to apply for their passport online and in plenty of time. This campaign began in December, with digital, print and social media advertisements. Radio advertisements commenced in January, followed by outdoor advertising in February. All advertisements remind citizens to check the validity of their passports before booking travel.

Indications are that the campaign has had the desired effect. The Passport Service received over 148,000 applications in January, the second highest monthly figure on record. Over 92% of these applicants applied online. The number of applications coming in remains high, and the Passport Service has issued over 275,000 passports to date in 2023.

The Passport Service will continue to consider ways in which to enhance this essential citizen service, including a passport renewal reminder service as part of future system enhancements.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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177. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if passport applications for two siblings (details supplied) in County Mayo will be processed on time for their travel with their family. [15992/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, supporting documents for these applications were received by the Passport Service on 22 February 2023. The Passport Service requested further supporting documents from the parent on 15 March 2023. These supporting documents were received on 22 March 2023. Turnaround time from receipt of further supporting documents is 15 working days. These applications are within the turnaround time and have not yet reached their issue by date.