Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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23. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether the Passport Office ever facilitates walk-ins to the passport appointment service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37491/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Urgent Appointment service operates by appointment only and is available for one and four day turnaround times at the Passport Office in Dublin 2 and for a four day turnaround time at the Passport Office in Cork.

Applicants who have a query about their application should contact the Passport Service Customer Service Hub via phone or webchat. The Passport Service website also provides comprehensive guidance to applicants in relation to all aspects of the application process, from video guides to tracking an application in real time. The Passport Service public counters in Dublin and Cork also provide a service for queries from the public on passports and passport applications. No appointment is needed to use this service.

Passport Online is by far the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to apply for a passport. It is an award winning online platform, which places the Irish Passport Service amongst the most innovative in the world. Over 90% of applicants across the world now apply using Passport Online, and that figure will continue to grow as the Passport Service's Digital First strategy continues to roll out.

More than half of all simple adult online renewals issue within two working days, meaning that, for many, the online renewal service is faster than the urgent appointment service offered at the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork.