Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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173. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the current surge in number of foreign birth registration applications from the US impact on the current turnaround processing times for passport applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15501/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Passport Service is successfully responding to the current level of demand for passports and Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications. Over a quarter of a million passports and almost 10,000 FBR certs have been issued to date this year.

While demand for passports and Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) has increased significantly over the past decade, my Department has made it a priority to ensure that excellent customer service is maintained throughout the year. Due to my Department’s vigilant monitoring of passport and FBR applications and proactive management of resources, the Passport Service is in an excellent position to meet forecasted demand for 2025.

The Department's Management Board annually signs off on staff requirements to meet forecasted demand for the coming year. Staffing levels are kept under constant review, and assessed throughout the year to ensure adequate staffing is in place to respond to the demand for both passports and FBR.