Almost 6,000 passports issued in Westmeath this year - Burke

The passport service has issued 5,665 passports to residents of Westmeath in the first six months of the year, according to Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, TD, who is reminding people to check their passport expiry dates well in advance of upcoming travel plans.

More than half a million passports have been issued in the first six months of this year, and people are encouraged to renew their passports early to avoid any last-minute difficulties ahead of travelling abroad.

Minister Burke said: “Anyone planning on travelling abroad over the coming months should take a few minutes to check that their passport is in date,” he said.

“With so many people still making plans for summer holidays and travel, I would encourage everyone to check their passport well in advance of their departure date and, ideally, before booking flights.

“The last thing anyone wants is to arrive at the airport and discover that their passport is out of date.

“Renewing in advance is straightforward through Passport Online and can help avoid unnecessary stress in the run-up to a trip.

“Passport Online is the quickest and easiest way to renew a passport and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to citizens worldwide.

“Anyone who needs to renew their passport is encouraged to do so well in advance of their planned travel date.”