81. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of urgent passport renewal appointments facilitated at the Cork, Dublin and London passport offices in each of the years 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38219/26]

The Passport Service is meeting high demand for passports and has issued almost 400,000 passports to date in 2026.

The Passport Online service offers citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This award-winning service has allowed for the centralisation of passport processing and has resulted in greater efficiencies for our citizens and is available to 100% of all applicants globally. The percentage of applicants using Passport Online has increased from 93% in 2025 to 96% to date in 2026.

The public offices of the Passport Service in Dublin 2 and in Cork operate a four-day Urgent Appointment service for renewal applicants. The Dublin office also offers a one-day Urgent Appointment service for renewal applicants. Further information on the Urgent Appointment service for renewal applicants is available at: www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/urgent-appointment/

It is worth noting that just 1% of all passports issue through the public counters.

With regard to the Deputy's specific query, please see the number of urgent passport renewal appointments facilitated in Dublin, Cork and London in each of the years 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form.

I would ask the Deputy to encourage their constituents to apply for their passports through Passport Online. In particular, those who are travelling this year, especially families with young children, should apply online and in plenty of time.