Robert Troy, TD.

Troy calls on minister to address passport office crisis

Fianna Fail TD Robert Troy has again this week called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan to address the unprecedented waiting lists for passport applications.

The call from Deputy Troy comes as processing times for passports continues to lengthen resulting in some applications not being completed in time for planned holidays.

Deputy Troy explained the situation: “At present an application submitted through the passport express system is taking anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks to process, as opposed to the 15 working day timescale which has always been the norm for these type of applications.

“I fully understand that there are a huge number of applications in the system at the moment due to the Brexit vote in Britain and another increase in applications following Donald Trumps election as US president.

“The issue for me is that both of these events have been ongoing for a number of months and the only action taken by the minister is to ask people to apply in plenty of time.

“It is obvious to everyone else that the minister urgently needs to bring in a number of temporary staff to help speed up the process and to alleviate the current back-log”.

The Department of Foreign Affairs have recently taken to social media warning people to check their passports and to apply for passport renewals in plenty of time.

“I am extremely disappointed with the inaction of the minister in dealing with this problem. It is a straightforward temporary staffing issue which has an equally straightforward answer.

“I have raised this topic on a number of occasions over the past few months and I have again tabled a question to the minister this week, urging him to take action.

“My office has been dealing with a large number of cases where holidays have been booked and paid for only to be put at risk by delays in the passport office.

“I for one do not think this is acceptable when the solution is staring the Minister in the face,” concluded Deputy Troy.