Ireland’s Passport Service has been praised for dealing with a particularly busy summer for passport applications.
Forecasts are indicating that over a million passports will be issued in Ireland this year.
That includes the 17,402 applications received from Donegal to date.
Donegal has the ninth highest number of applications this year so far, with Dublin, Cork and Galway having the most.
Antrim and Down are also among the counties in the Top 10 highest number of applications.
The record for the highest number of passports issued in a year was set in 2022, as 1,080,000 were issued in the post-pandemic travel resurge.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said he is happy with the work of the passport offices: “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. Passport Online is by far the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to apply for a passport.”
90% of applicants across the island of Ireland now apply using Passport Online, a service that is available to all types of applicants including children applying for their first passport.
The Tánaiste added: “With just a few months left in 2024, the Passport Service is expecting to be as busy as ever, especially as forecasts are indicating we will issue over a million passports this year. I would encourage anyone who is considering travel to check that their passport is in date, and if they need to renew their passport or apply for the first time, to use Passport Online. Passport Online is available to everyone and is the most cost effective way to apply for your passport.”
