Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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56. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason for long delays in the processing of first-time passport applications. [39270/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Passport Service has issued over 870,000 passports to date this year. Virtually all complete passport applications are processed within or before advertised turnaround times with the majority of adult online renewal applications issuing within two working days. There are currently no backlogs. The target turnaround time for first time online applications is 20 working days. The current average turnaround time for first time online applications is 19 working days.

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 third in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 193 countries.

In order to protect the integrity of the Irish passport, when processing a first time application, the Passport Service must validate the identity of the applicant and confirm their entitlement to Irish citizenship. In the cases of children's applications, witnessed identity and consent forms are required to ensure that guardians have consented to the issuance of a passport for the child. This ensures that the Passport Service protects the rights of the child and their guardians. Due to the rigorous checking process in place as already outlined the target turnaround time for first time online applications is 20 working days.

The Passport Service remains committed to offering a range of application channels, including a paper-based service for citizens who are not eligible or do not wish to use the Passport Online service. Paper applications, by their nature, will always be a slower process. Therefore, the turnaround time for all paper applications is 8 weeks. Passport Service figures show that only 5% of applicants now use the Post Passport channel.

The Passport Online service offers Irish citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is a user-friendly, efficient service that consistently offers processing times up to four times faster than paper-based passport renewal applications. Passport Online is now available to 99.9% of all applicants across the world.

In cases where further supporting documents are required from the applicant, every effort is made to let the applicant know as soon as possible. The Passport Service has a system whereby applications do not go to the back of the queue following a request for further documents. When the Passport Service receives the required additional documentation from the applicant, the application is prioritised for checking.

I would ask the Deputy to encourage her constituents to apply online, well in advance of their travel date, for the quickest, cheapest and most efficient service.