Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 July 2024
128. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the estimated full-year capital and current costs that would be required if another passport printing machine were purchased for the Passport Office in Dublin. [29003/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Passport Service has issued over 650,000 passports to date this year. Virtually all complete passport applications are being processed within or before advertised turnaround times with the majority of adult online renewal applications issuing within two working days. There are currently no backlogs and 95% of applicants apply through Passport Online which is now available to 99.9% of all applicants globally.
The Passport Online service offers citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This award-winning service has allowed for the centralisation of passport processing and has resulted in greater efficiencies for our citizens and for the Passport Service. Passport Online is a user-friendly, efficient service that consistently offers processing times up to 4 times faster than paper-based passport renewal applications.
The initial capital cost of purchasing and installing a new printer and mailing machine is estimated to be approximately €6 million. The machines themselves cost over €3m. In addition to this, the infrastructure required to install and operate these machines are considerable and include structural work to the building in which they are to be located. The installation of the machines and provision of the related infrastructure is estimated to cost an additional €3m.
In addition to the capital investment, these highly sophisticated machines require expert engineers to be on-site while the machines are in operation to maintain and service the machines and repair them when necessary. The running and maintenance costs alone are estimated to be €600,000 per year.
I am satisfied that the current production capacity meets the needs of passport applicants. The Passport Service will continue to consider ways in which to enhance this essential citizen service.
