Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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62. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the estimated cost of reducing the passport fee to €60 for applicants aged over 80 years, based on 2023 figures. [9251/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In 2023 the Passport Service received 11,272 applications from applicants aged 80 years or older. Of these, 10,062 were online applications and 1,210 were Post Passport paper applications, with an approximate total revenue of €851,000. Based on 2023 figures, a reduction in fees would lead to a reduction in revenue of approximately €175,000.

Passport fees were last updated in June 2019 and set out in Statutory Instrument No. 259/2019 - Diplomatic and Consular Fees. At that time the fee for adult passports applied for through the Passport Online service were reduced from €80 to €75. Passports applied for through postal service providers remained at €80.

A reduced fee is also applied on applications for passports for minors in recognition of the fact that a minor’s passport is valid for only five years. Most adult passports will be issued for a period of ten years.

I am satisfied that, at a cost of €75 for an online application, which breaks down to €7.50 per year, the Irish passport fee compares favourably with the services offered elsewhere.