Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Passport Service takes its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport very seriously. The Irish passport has a strong international reputation due to the strength of the security features within the passport book and the robust processes involved in its issuance. The Irish passport was recently ranked 6th in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 188 countries. Accordingly, a rigorous analysis process is in place to verify the identity and citizenship status of first time applicants.

All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. Under Section 7 of the Act, the Passport Service may require the applicant to produce such documents as are considered necessary for the purposes of issuing a passport.

Government issued photographic identification is required for all first time adult passport applications, in order for the Passport Service to establish the identity of the applicant. This can be a Public Services Card, an original passport from another country or a certified copy of a driver’s licence (certified by a solicitor or notary public). The Passport Service does not accept Electoral Identity Cards issued by the Electoral Office of Northern Ireland as these are not government issued photographic identification.

The Passport Service website outlines the documentary requirements for first time applicants residing in Northern Ireland: www.dfa.ie/passports/documentary-requirements/anadult/firsttimeapplicantbornontheislandofireland/.

The Passport Service understands that a very small number of applicants will not hold any of the specified types of government issued photographic identification. These applicants may contact the Passport Service for further information on how their identity may be verified.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 to 155, inclusive, together.

We are currently in the busy season for passports, as citizens prepare for their upcoming summer travel plans. Demand forecasts indicate that the Passport Service will issue just under 1.1 million passports this year.

Thanks to operational and staffing plans implemented by my Department, the Passport Service is successfully meeting the current high demand, and all turnaround times are at their target level. The Passport Service has issued over 510,000 passports to date in 2023, and the Customer Service Hub is responding to an average of 15,000 queries per week.

Passport applicants can track the status of their passport application online via the Passport Tracker which is available on this website - www.dfa.ie/passporttracking/. The information available on the tracker is an excellent guide as to where an application is in the system. I encourage all applicants who have a query about their application to contact the Passport Service Customer Service Hub, where they can speak to a Passport Service agent via phone or web chat. The Passport Service significantly scaled up the Hub over the past 18 months in response to the increased demand for passports and the Hub continues to be a priority area for staffing in the context of ongoing recruitment.

In October 2021, the Passport Service established a phone line to respond to Oireachtas Members' queries on urgent passport cases. The phone line was established during a time of extraordinary demand for the Passport Service as a result of pent up demand following the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting interruptions to the service. It is important to note that this channel does not function as a means of expediting passport applications. In each case raised by an Oireachtas Member, the Passport Service reviews the application in question and provides a status update to the Oireachtas Member. Where the estimated issue-by date has been exceeded the Passport Service will follow up on this internally. Where an applicant requires their passport for a 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.

While public representatives 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 representative.

Members of the Oireachtas are currently allocated up to 20 queries per week. The service is utilised by approximately 60% of Oireachtas members, out of which only a small percentage use their maximum query allocation, with approximately half using less than 5 queries. Based on the level of usage, the current allocation seems sufficient. Further future consideration can be given to this allocation, if this is deemed necessary.

I have fully supported the provision of an online portal for passport queries from Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Northern Ireland, which was launched in April 2023. The portal operates on a similar basis to the Oireachtas phone line. Since its launch on 17 April until 02 June, the Members of Legislative Assembly Passport Portal has handled 280 queries. The current standard waiting time for a query response is two working days.

All elected representatives of Irish citizens, including those from Northern Ireland, can also make formal representations to me in relation to passport applications by submitting inquiries directly to my office.

I strongly encourage all elected representatives to advise their constituents of the benefits of using Passport Online, and to check their passport before booking travel. The Passport Service website contains a comprehensive guide for applicants, covering everything from documentary requirements to guidelines for taking a passport photo. I would like to remind citizens and elected representatives that the most appropriate channel for passport queries is the Passport Service Customer Service Hub.

Given the resources available to applicants which have been outlined above, there are no current plans to provide briefing to MLAs or Members of Parliament in relation to the passport application process. This is something that my Department can keep under review for potential future needs.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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156. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if passports are now being printed in the Cork Passport office; if so, if the rapid urgent appointment service can also be provided in this office, which has previously been called for by this Deputy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27979/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The introduction of Passport Online in 2017 has allowed for the centralisation of passport processing, resulting in greater efficiencies for the Passport Service and our citizens. Passport Online is the quickest and easiest channel for passport applicants, and is now used by over 90% of applicants across the world.

Thanks to operational and staffing plans implemented by the Department, the Passport Service is successfully meeting the current high demand, and all turnaround times are at their target level. The Passport Service has issued over 510,000 passports to date in 2023.

The Passport Office in Cork operates a four-day turnaround Urgent Appointment service for passport renewals. However, since over half of all simple adult renewals issue within two working days, for many, the Passport Online service is even faster than the 4 day urgent appointment service offered at our public counters.

The Cork office can also facilitate the immediate issuance of emergency travel documents in situations of genuine urgency such as a medical emergency or a bereavement abroad.

The Passport Service operates three passport book printing machines, two of which are located in the main production facility at the Balbriggan campus and the third in the Passport Office in Dublin 2. Each passport printer has a printing capacity of 250 passports per hour.

I am satisfied overall that the current production capacity meets the needs of passport applicants. The purchase of any additional printer would require the assessment of the considerable financial implications involved. While there are no current plans to install a printing machine in the Cork office, the Passport Service will continue to consider ways in which to enhance this essential citizen service.