Independent Deputy Michael Healy Rae has called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to move quickly to help expedite the delay in passports which now sees a backlog of some 200,000 passports.

The Kerry TD, questioning the Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney in the Dáil yesterday (Tuesday), said that he was not critical of the people in the passport office but said they were under severe pressure when it came to the issuing of passports due to the huge numbers of applications.

“Since the 17th March 2022 I have called three times about one [Passport] that is overdue since then and it is with a checker with three weeks, another example is one that is overdue since 4th April 2002. Nothing happening with it. Another one, a family of three children all overdue since the 26th April 2022. I called a number of times about this. They missed their flight and still don’t have passports," he said.

“I’m absolutely, like the same as everyone else, inundated with these queries. We have to do better than we are doing at present. If there is almost 200,000 people waiting, we need to do better in meeting that demand and not cause more stress to people who are doing their best.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs insisted there is no backlog in processing passports and have blamed forms being filled out incorrectly, as almost 200,000 people wait for their delayed travel documents ahead of the holiday season.

A record 1.4 million passport applications are expected this year and many first time applicants are reporting long delays with many unable to get passports ahead of their holidays.