Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

84. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passport applications received in 2023 and to date in 2024, by month; the number of applications whereby a witness was unavailable and as a result the Passport Service required a new witness form to be submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23649/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Passport Service has issued over half a million passports to date in 2024. The Customer Service Hub has responded to over 200,000 queries this year and is now handling up to 16,000 queries per week.

The Passport Service is well staffed with a total of 845 staff currently, and is in an excellent position to deliver the level of demand forecasted for this year, even with the busy summer season underway.

The total number of applications received by the Passport Service in 2023 and to date in 2024, by month are outlined below in tabular form.

The witnessing of relevant passport application forms is a vital 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 children's applications, it also ensures that the consent of guardians is verified. Since 2017, an adult applicant renewing their passport through the Online channel is not required to have a form witnessed.

There are a number of reasons why a witnessed Identity form for a First Time adult applicant or a witnessed Identity and Consent form for a child might need to be resubmitted by the applicant. These include the witness or the guardians completing the form incorrectly, the correct guardians not being present when a child's form is being witnessed, the witness being unsuitable or the witness not being available to verify their signature when the Passport Service seeks verification. It is Passport Service policy to contact the witness three times before an application is rejected due to the witness being unavailable. In the case of Garda witnesses, the Passport Service contacts the relevant Superintendent’s Office to verify the details if the Garda Station cannot be contacted by phone after three attempts. This system is working well.

The Passport Service takes its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport very seriously. The Irish passport has a strong international reputation due to the strength of the security features within the passport book and the robust processes involved in its issuance. The Irish passport was recently ranked 2nd in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 193 countries. Accordingly, a rigorous analysis process is in place to verify the identity and citizenship of applicants.

It is not possible to provide the information the Deputy has requested, as the Passport Service does not separately track passport applications that fall under the parameters of the judgment to which the Deputy refers.

It is not possible to provide the numbers of applications rejected because of the witness being unavailable, as the Passport Service does not track the numbers of rejections based on that specific criterion.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

85. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if paper passport applications (details supplied) which are past their due date will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23661/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service requested further documents for the application on 22 May 2024. The application cannot proceed until the required supporting documents have been received.