Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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125. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration has been given to setting up a portal for gardaí and the Passport Office to register their signing of passport applications and associated details to that ensure passport applications are not delayed, as is the case frequently whereby a garda or a Garda station not being contactable for the Passport Service when there is a need to verify the information on an application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27431/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, by law the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including all operational and administrative matters, such as the use by Garda members of any such portal. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

Further, the administration of passport applications falls within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The establishment of any portal for use by Garda members as part of the passport application process is a matter for his Department.

The Deputy will be aware that there are certain passport applications for applicants resident in Ireland that require forms to be witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána. The witnessing of these 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 submitting the passport application form.

I am informed that, for each application that requires a Garda witness, the Passport Service calls the relevant Garda station to confirm that the Garda witness recorded the witnessed form in the station logbook. Passport Service staff will call the relevant Garda station up to three times to verify the Garda's signature. Where the Passport Service cannot reach the Garda station, there is a system in place whereby the Passport Service contacts the relevant Superintendent’s Office to verify the details.

I am further advised that the Passport Service is continuously looking at ways to make the application process easier for applicants. In addition to this, the Passport Service maintains a close working relationship with An Garda Síochána and regularly offers training and guidance to Gardaí on the correct completion of the required identity and consent forms.