Missing information delaying passport applications

Just under half of all passport applications from Cavan have stalled as more information is needed.

Figures released by the Passport Office show 1,448 online applications form people in Cavan are currently being dealt with by the service.

Of those, 840 are currently being processed, with 608 awaiting further information. Their processing has been paused pending the furnishing of the required documents.

The Passport Office has drawn criticism in recent weeks over long wait times for new passports, particularly with first time applications.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney, whose Department oversees the Passport Office, says processing times have improved over recent months.

“Since March of this year, the Passport Service has reduced the processing time for first time applications from 40 working days to 30 working days.”

That figure is an average of all first time applications, with renewals being dealt with quicker.

The figures show a 10 working day wait for an adult online renewal, with 15 working days for a “complex or child online renewal”. The An Post mail-in service can take up to eight weeks for an application to process.