51 Upper Mount Street                                                    Spokesperson:

Dublin 2

Councillor McCartan

       Ireland

Dublin County Council

                                                                                                087 915 6906

05 June 2013

New passport service will improve turnaround times for delivery Pat Mc Cartan

Fine Gael Councillor / Local Area Representative Pat Mc Cartan has welcomed changes in the passport application process, saying that new passports will now be delivered more speedily and at a lower cost.

“From the beginning of July, all passport postal applications will have to be submitted through the Passport Express services at local post offices. This will allow for applications to be processed faster with guaranteed turnaround times being more realistically met,” he explained. “People should be aware that applications made through standard postal service will no longer be processed after June 30.

“In conjunction, a new appointment service will be in operation at the Passport Office on Molesworth Street for those who need to have passports issued at short notice. This new streamlined service will make it easier for people to obtain passports quickly and to have their business conducted in a more efficient way.

“These changes are an endorsement of our post office network and the valuable role they play in our communities. It is also another example of how this Government is seeking to improve services.

“I would encourage everyone who is expecting to travel as the summer months approach, to check the validity of their passport so as to avoid any last minute scrambles for a new one to be issued,” the Councillor / Local Area Representative concluded.

ENDS