Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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120. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how young adults who leave State care and have no access to their parents' citizenship documents due to no contact can access passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35796/25]

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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131. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how young adults who leave State care and have no access to their parents' citizenship documents due to no contact can access passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35790/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 131 together.

All passport applications are subject to the requirements of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him/her. To meet this requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement.

Irish citizenship is governed by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, which is under the remit of the Department of Justice. Citizenship may be obtained in a number of ways, including by birth, descent, naturalisation and adoption.

All first time applications are dealt with on a case-by-case basis by the Passport Service and complex applications require considerable engagement with the applicant to ensure that the Passport Service is fully satisfied that an applicant has demonstrated their entitlement to citizenship.

Information on what is required for all first time passport applications, including details on documentary requirements, guardianship and consent, are available at my Department’s recently updated website (www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/documentary-requirements).Our Customer Service Hub agents are available through phone and webchat services from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. They can be contacted at +353 1 671 1633, or via the Webchat service: www.ireland.ie/contactpassportservice/

The Passport Service would be happy to assist if there is a specific case that the Deputy would like to bring to their attention.