Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Concern in Passport Office as 66,000 applications outstanding (and the number's growing)

The number of applications outstanding has been consistently on the rise in recent times in the wake of the Brexit vote.

shutterstock_546540106 Shutterstock / Astroette Shutterstock / Astroette / Astroette

A SIGNIFICANT BACKLOG in passport applications has developed at Ireland’s Passport Office.

Figures released to TheJournal.ie by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) show that currently 65,916 applications are outstanding (ie awaiting process).

This represents an increase from the 60,404 such applications that were outstanding at this time last year.

The single greatest reason for the backlog would appear to be Brexit.

Since the UK voting to leave the EU in June 2016, applications for Irish passports have increased to a huge extent from eligible citizens living in Britain hoping to avoid issues with free travel (and employment) throughout the union once Brexit becomes official in March 2019.

Last year saw a 33% increase (33,008) year-on-year of the number of applications received from Northern Ireland and mainland Britain.

The first five months of 2017 have seen that trend explode – with a staggering 55% increase in the number of applications received from this time last year (29,792 additional applications received year-on-year until end May 2017).

It’s understood that there is a deal of concern within DFA regarding the ongoing backlog in the process of applications, although waiting times currently vary depending upon the manner of application.

TheJournal.ie contacted DFA for a statement in relation to this matter. A response had not been received at the time of publication.

dfa DFA DFA

The 66,000 applications currently outstanding are totalled from applicants in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and via DFA’s online passport renewals service.

The breakdown of outstanding applications at present is:

  • Irish applicants – 43,274 (66%)
  • Northern Irish applicants – 10,288 (16%)
  • British applicants – 8,609 (13%)
  • Online renewals – 3,745 (5%)

Separate to the 66,000 applications waiting to be processed, nearly 97,000 such applications were received last month, a 7.6% increase on the same month in 2016.

The lowest number of applications received and registered this year was in January – 70,771 (a massive 33% increase on the previous year’s total of 53,175).

In the last three months there have never been fewer than 85,000 applications received.

With the current outstanding total of 66,000, this suggests that applications are being received at a faster rate than the Passport Office can deal with them.

Waiting times

This does not as yet suggest that the backlog is creating a situation where applicants are having their passports significantly delayed.

However, the average waiting times for applications vary depending on how and from where they were applied for.

When applying (by mail, the only means to do so is via the Passport Express option through a post office – all other mail applications are returned), people are ‘strongly advised’ to get their applications in six weeks prior to travelling.

Passport renewals typically take 14 working days, while first time applicants can expect a minimum wait of 20 days (four weeks).

Emergency applications meanwhile necessitate an appointment with the Passport Office in either Cork or Dublin.

The wait-time on online renewals (new applications can only be made via post) is significantly shorter at just 10 working days (not counting postage times).

Applications traditionally spike prior to, and during, the summer months as people ready themselves for travelling abroad on holiday.

Last year, 733,060 were issued in total, a 15% increase on the 635,600 figure from just five years ago in 2012.

Backlogs regarding such State-issued documents or payments are not uncommon, with staffing issues often to blame.

In recent times the Department of Social Protection, for example, has struggled with a backlog in the payment of maternity benefits which has seen many women having given birth for a number of weeks before receiving their payments.

Read: Longford is getting natural gas for the first time after €3 million Center Parcs deal

Read: Who got the nod? And who lost out? Here are Varadkar’s new junior ministers

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
46 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank Mc Carthy
    Favourite Frank Mc Carthy
    Report
    Nov 27th 2024, 10:51 PM

    Congratulations to all.

    160
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maire Hicks
    Favourite Maire Hicks
    Report
    Nov 27th 2024, 11:04 PM

    Congratulations to all at the journal

    147
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony Curran
    Favourite Anthony Curran
    Report
    Nov 27th 2024, 11:08 PM

    Butterly (Stardust owner) did what he often did in situations like this: he turned to people he knew in Fianna Fáil to help him. ‘We were all Fianna Fáil-ers,’ he said. ‘What you had these people [politicians] for was to help get things. If you wanted to know something about your business or you wanted someone who could do something, you didn’t get answers by writing into the papers. You asked these people.’ And you wonder why the truth was covered up for over 40 years….it’s just how this country is run.

    149
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony Curran
    Favourite Anthony Curran
    Report
    Nov 27th 2024, 11:11 PM

    @Anthony Curran: Ps kudos to the book’s authors. A riveting and chilling read.

    136
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute J B
    Favourite J B
    Report
    Nov 27th 2024, 11:25 PM

    Only today had another conservation with someone over major decline in younger lot actually reading books due to bloody smartphones. Attention span seriously f’d,, anything longer than a tik toc clip causes anxiety. It’s great achievement plus encouraging to see younger authors able to apply and blow it out of park. Congratulations.

    141
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Padraig Leahy
    Favourite Padraig Leahy
    Report
    Nov 28th 2024, 12:30 AM

    .

    108
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Clare Power
    Favourite Clare Power
    Report
    Nov 28th 2024, 12:31 AM

    @Padraig Leahy: Well said Padraig..well said

    142
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Blaine
    Favourite Dermot Blaine
    Report
    Nov 28th 2024, 8:12 AM

    @Padraig Leahy: you say it best, when you say nothing at all.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Scanlan
    Favourite Mick Scanlan
    Report
    Nov 28th 2024, 8:40 AM

    School children and above age should read the Last Disco to get it into their heads how people power won against a corrupt litany of self serving Government who simply wished not only the 48 victims but hundreds of their relatives would just go away.
    Great Book well deserved prize winner

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute MICHEAL
    Favourite MICHEAL
    Report
    Nov 28th 2024, 1:33 AM

    Spoofer

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maurice Frazer
    Favourite Maurice Frazer
    Report
    Nov 29th 2024, 9:55 AM

    Thank you all at Journal staffers and ex staffers the helped tell the story of our loved ones last hours, and the fight for justice. I have to say, though I am still on the first chapter…. to many bad memories coming back, I’m sure I will finish it some time later, but Congratulations all

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Iano C
    Favourite Iano C
    Report
    Nov 28th 2024, 4:10 PM

    Congrats, folks!!

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds