Half of passport applications incomplete

Incomplete applications have seen half of the current passport applications from Cavan delayed. Figures released by the Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney showed, as of March 28, 1,132 passport applications from people in Cavan were being processed.

He said the Passport Service is currently processing a total of 182,000 applications.

However, Minister Coveney said 37% of the total applications were submitted incomplete, with either information or supporting documents missing. The figure in Cavan is higher, with 48%, or 541 applications from the county listed as incomplete.

The situation is mirrored in other local counties, with 46% of applications in Longford, 42% in Monaghan and 42% in Meath listed as incomplete.

Local representatives have urged people to submit any passport applications promptly as people plan their first foreign holidays in three years for most.

However, Minister Coveney said in many cases, the Passport Service is left waiting for the necessary documentation from applicants.

“While the Passport Service makes every effort to contact applicants in such circumstances, their experience is that many applicants take weeks and sometimes months to send in the necessary documents.”