Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE COST OF running the Passport Office surged by almost €4.3 million last year as demand for Irish passports increased in the wake of the Brexit referendum.
An additional 32 staff were hired to cope with the rise in applications for Irish passports during 2016, while a number of temporary clerical officers were also engaged during especially busy periods.
A total of 21,549 people applied for passports in the three months between July and September 2016 following the Brexit referendum on 23 June.
This was almost double the 10,959 applicants who sought passports during the same period in the previous year.
Almost 65,000 people in Britain applied for an Irish passport last year, representing an increase of 42% compared to 2015.
Figures released by Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan show that the cost of running the Passport Office increased by almost €4.3 million last year to €31,637,414.
During the same year, the number of full-time staff working in the Passport Office increased from 269.7 to 301.7 in response to increasing demand. The figures include salary costs but exclude accommodation costs in respect of the offices.
The data was provided by Flanagan in response to a parliamentary question by Fianna Fáil TD Darragh O’Brien.
Passport cards
Separately, the minister also revealed that 42,227 new passport cards have been issued since they were introduced in October 2015.
The cards are available to all Irish citizens who hold valid passports and are over the age of 18. They can be used in place of a passport for travel to and from 31 countries in Europe.
“The convenience of the card in travelling to countries in Europe, along with its portability and innovative security features, have clearly resonated with the public and I am very pleased with its success to date,” Flanagan said.
I will launch a new online service for adult passport renewals shortly. As part of this service, citizens will be offered an option to apply for a passport card and passport book at the same time and at a reduced fee.
“I expect that the ease with which citizens will be able to apply for a passport card while renewing their passport book online will further drive strong uptake of the card,” he added.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I thought you had to pay for passports. That’s like saying “Temple bar pub down ten kegs of guinness after unexpected surge in business on a busy Saturday night”
@Ronan Sexton: oh no! Where can I donate?
Enda should follow Trumps lead and just push a bill across the table next time he’s sitting down with Theresa May. ‘Yeeeaaaaahhh… whenever you get the chance, if you could just pay that… that be great”
@Drew TheChinaman :): I wouldn’t do that, the passport office made 5.2 million on those extra passports so they came out way ahead
@Boganity: strange that the article focuses only on the costs.
How do you possible arrive at that figure… a passport costs €80… 10,959 passports were issued. That means revenue from them were approx €877k.
If you can’t do basic math you really shouldn’t comment.
@Drew TheChinaman :): id say the people in the passport office don’t know what’s after hitting them a surge in work they’d be used to the slow and steady approach
@Drew TheChinaman :): as its says in the article that is the net of a 3 month period year on year, the annualised figure is 65,000 passports issued to people in Britain which it also says in the article
Irish passport applications from British residents are now being processed in Britain itself.
@Nosmo King: all Irish passports are issued by the passport office in Dublin. Since 911 all passports have to be issued in the actual country the passport is from. Embassies and consulates now only process applications and distribute the passports when they receive back from Dublin
@Boganity: Yes, as I said. All Irish passport applications from British residents are processed in Britain itself !
@Nosmo King: ok, so what relevance is that to the story ?
€31,637,414 the running costs for a year!!!!!!!more massaged figures????or just bad management?
@et: that 31.6 million figure includes the printing and production costs of the 720,000 passports issued last year for which they charged 57.6 million, that’s a 26 million profit they made.
It had better be an April fool because there has been no recruiting in health, 32 extra staff and an extra €4 + million would benefit in that area would be far more welcome.
@Jho Harris: Health didn’t make 26 million profit the passport office made last year.
@Boganity: If you put your comment into context, health will lose money to the amount of extra passports on non passport holders in the country who have no intention of paying taxes etc.
Just remembered its April fools day
@et: Donald Trump bought Liberty Hall and is tearing it down apparently
This is good news. What’s with the negative headline? Months ago he was informing the world that they were understaffed and wouldn’t be able to cope with the volume of applications. Now they have work, staff and a great new app. He should be celebrating the preparation put in.
Allow the highly paid staff of the passport office their we rant
It’s all bull
I am over in the UK on a break
It’s must cheaper here fact!!
@Jonathan Yeo: do you pay property tax etc on your break?
Passport express now taking between 6 to 8 weeks not 10 working days. There must be a huge surge in applications
No mention of how much extra was taken in.
have your say