Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

202. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passport applications that were delayed due to the fact that consent forms could not be verified with the relevant Garda station in 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30472/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Irish Passport has a strong international reputation and currently ranks third in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 189 countries. As such, the Passport Service takes seriously its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport.

Since the introduction of Passport Online in 2017, adults renewing their passports through Passport Online are not required to submit a witnessed identity form. Online child renewal applications can be witnessed by members of a wide range of professions including school teachers, doctors, elected representatives and Gardaí.

There are certain passport applications for applicants resident in Ireland that require forms to be witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána. These include:

- All Post Passport applications;

- First time adult online applications;

- First time child online applications.

The witnessing of these forms is an important element of the identity verification process for the Passport Service, as it provides initial assurance that the person in the photograph is the same person presenting to submit the passport application form.

In the case of a first time application for a minor, the witnessing of this form provides evidence that guardians have given their consent for a passport to be issued to the child. To protect the rights of parents or guardians and children, it is important that forms are correctly completed and verified by the Passport Service by calling the Garda station to confirm the Garda’s signature.

It is the responsibility of the witnessing Garda to ensure that the signature is correctly recorded in the Garda station logbook so that, when the Passport Service calls at a later date, the signature can be verified.

Only 17% of all applications require a Garda witness. In these cases, the Passport Service calls the relevant Garda station to confirm that the Garda recorded the form in the station logbook. There is no requirement for the Passport Service to speak to the witnessing Garda directly. Passport Service staff will call the Garda station up to three times to verify the Garda's signature. Passport applications are checked by experienced entitlement officers who endeavour to maintain up-to-date records of the opening hours of Garda stations.

Where the Passport Service cannot reach the Garda station after three attempts, there is a system in place whereby the relevant Superintendent’s Office can be contacted to verify the details. If the Passport Service is unable to verify the witness after these steps have been taken, a new witnessed form will be requested from the applicant.

The Passport Service is continuously looking at ways to make the application process easier for applicants, including the enhancement of digital services. My Department would welcome the digitisation of the records maintained by An Garda Síochána when witnessing applications.

Currently, there is a general update of Passport Service policies in the context of the ongoing programme of Passport Service Reform. This Reform programme focuses on the future of service delivery by implementing projects that enhance the customer experience, while maintaining the integrity of the Irish passport.

The Passport Service maintains a close working relationship with An Garda Síochána and offers guidance of the Gardaí on the correct completion of the required identity and consent forms. My Department will continue this engagement to discuss how we can work together to improve the service for citizens.

With regard to the specific figures the Deputy has requested, the Passport Service only holds a record of instances where a new consent form is requested, not the specific reason it was requested. A new form may need to be requested for a number of reasons including the witness not being contactable for verification or the form being filled out incorrectly by the applicant or witness. The Passport Service is not in a position to provide figures for instances where new identity and consent forms may be requested for a specific reason.