Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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117. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current number of passport applications currently being processed; the number of passports issued to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43457/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Passport Service is responding well to demand during the busy summer period, with virtually all complete passport applications being processed within or well before advertised turnaround times. Over half of adult renewal applications are processed within 2 working days.

The Passport Service has issued over 615,000 passport books and cards to date in 2025.

There are currently 102,276 applications in the passport system. This figure changes day-to-day, as passport applications come in, and passport books and cards are sent out to citizens. Of the total applications currently in the system, 31,019 applications (30%) are being actively processed by the Passport Service. 71,257 (70%) are waiting for an additional action by the applicant, such as the submission of required supporting documents.

It is the experience of the Passport Service that it can take weeks and sometimes even months for applicants to submit the documents required in order to progress their application. When an applicant submits an application through Passport Online, the Passport Service emails them regularly to remind them to submit the required supporting documentation. Applications that are currently with the applicant cannot be progressed by the Passport Service until the applicant takes the required action.

The Passport Online service offers citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Over 93% of all passport applications are now made through Passport Online which is available to 99.9% of all applicants globally.

I would ask the Deputy to encourage their constituents who are travelling this year, particularly those with young children who require their first passport, to apply online and in plenty of time.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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118. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration has been given to a default, automatic renewal application email and any other means of streamlining the passport application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43458/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Passport Service is responding well to demand during the busy summer period, with virtually all complete passport applications being processed within or well before advertised turnaround times. Over half of adult renewal applications are processed within 2 working days. To date this year, the Passport Service has issued over 615,000 passports.

The Passport Service takes every opportunity to remind citizens to check their passport validity. Each year, the Passport Service proactively plans for the demand forecasted for the year ahead. Part of this planning involves an extensive public communications campaign to encourage citizens to apply through Passport Online in plenty of time for their passport prior to travel.

The Passport Service continually works to enhance the service and provide efficiencies for customers. and its programme of reform is continuing this year. This will involve the implementation of a number of highly complex and transformational projects that are necessary to future-proof service delivery, enhance the customer experience, ensure business continuity, and, crucially, safeguard the integrity of the Irish passport. Successful delivery of these projects will ensure that Ireland remains at the forefront of passport processing worldwide. Along with other upgrades to the Passport Service's systems in 2026, citizens applying for a passport for the first time or renewing their passport will be able to opt in to receive electronic communications, including passport expiry reminder notices.

This service will be opt-in for several reasons. The Department has a statutory obligation from a data protection perspective to only use personal data, which may include home addresses or email addresses, where the Department is satisfied the data is accurate and up-to-date. Therefore, the Passport Service would be precluded from automatically using addresses used for the dispatch of passports from 10 years ago. Unlike car tax or travel insurance, adult passports expire every 10 years and individuals may have moved residence in the interim.

As always, I would ask Deputy to encourage their constituents to apply for their passports through Passport Online, as the quickest, easiest and most cost effective way to apply for a passport. The Passport Online service allows citizens to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is available to 99.9% of all applicants globally.