As mentioned last week, the programme for Government focuses on how we can improve services and be more responsive to citizens. As the Taoiseach may be aware, the turnaround time for applications and renewals for passports at the moment is totally unacceptable.

When I came into the Oireachtas 20 years ago, we had a drop box in Leinster House that empowered Deputies and Senators to facilitate urgent passports for members of the public. Some 20 years later, that box is long gone. It can take months, never mind weeks, particularly for young children and new applications. Indeed, anecdotal evidence suggests that depending on who you know or what mobile telephone numbers you have, the turnaround time can be a little bit better but for the vast majority of us, it is disgraceful in the extreme. The process to become a UN envoy seems clearer to the public than managing to get a passport for a child, to visit a sick relative or to go on a modest holiday.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. An extra €10 million was allocated for the passport service in the budget, which was an unprecedented investment in the service. Passport service staff numbers have increased by more than 300 since June of 2021 and additional staff will continue to be recruited, which will bring the staff numbers to more than 900.

The service is back in the 1980s.

No, it is not.

It is.

At the beginning of this month, the capacity of the passport service's public offices in Dublin and Cork increased-----

It is a waste of money for a service that is not working.

Is the Deputy going to listen?

Will the Taoiseach answer the question for a change?

I would if I got a chance.

Do not give me the waffle; I have been around for long enough. It is throwing bad money after bad money for a service that is going down.

Will Deputy MacSharry please let the Taoiseach respond?

It was the Taoiseach who took out the drop box too, which was a typical civil servant-led move.

I have nothing further to add.

Clearly.

The Deputy is not prepared to have a bit of common sense.