102. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passport applications returned to applicants because the passport service could not contact the Garda witness after a number of attempts; and the information for each of the 2023, 2024 and 2025. [47238/26]

The Passport Service is responding well to demand during the busy summer period, and has issued almost half a million passports to date this year.

A limited type of passport applications for applicants resident in Ireland are required to be witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána.

In December 2025, the Passport Service launched a new Passport Assist Service to support citizens who do not wish to use Passport Online channel and assist them to make a paper passport application. When developing Passport Assist, the Passport Service engaged with An Garda Síochána and provided training on how to ensure forms are witnessed correctly. Since its launch, the proportion of applications requiring Garda witnessing has decreased from 17% to 13%.

Passport applications that require Garda witnessing are:

- First Time Domestic Adult and Child Passport Assist;

- First Time Domestic Adult and Child Online.

The witnessing of these application forms is an important element of the identity verification process, as it provides initial assurance to the Passport Service that the person in the photograph is the same person presenting to submit the form.

Under Section 14(1) of the Passports Act, the consent of a child’s guardian(s) must be given before the Passport Service can issue them a passport. In order to protect the integrity of the Irish passport and the rights of the child and their guardian(s), it is important that the Child Identity and Consent form is correctly completed, witnessed and validated by the Passport Service for both first time and renewal applications for children. Guardians must be present to the person acting as a witness.

In these cases, the Passport Service calls the relevant station to confirm that the Garda recorded the form in the station’s logbook. The Passport Service is not required to directly speak to the witnessing Garda. Passport Service staff call the Garda station up to three times to verify the witness' signature. Passport applications are checked by experienced entitlement officers who endeavour to maintain up-to-date records of the opening hours of Garda stations.

Where the Passport Service cannot reach the Garda station after three attempts, the relevant Superintendent’s Office can be contacted to verify the details. If the Passport Service is unable to verify the witness after these steps have been taken, a new witnessed form will be requested from the applicant.

The Passport Service is continuously looking at ways to make the application process easier for applicants, including the enhancement of digital services, and would therefore welcome the digitisation of the records maintained by An Garda Síochána when witnessing applications.

The Passport Service maintains a close working relationship with An Garda Síochána and offers guidance to the Gardaí on the correct completion of the required identity and consent forms. The Passport Service will continue our engagement with An Garda Síochána, to discuss how we can work together to improve the service for citizens.

With regard to the Deputy's query on the number of passport applications returned to applicants because the Passport Service could not contact the Garda witness after a number of attempts, the Passport Service does not record the reasons why new a identity and consent form may be requested from an applicant.

I would ask the Deputy to encourage their constituents who are considering travelling overseas this year, particularly families with young children, to check the validity of their passports before booking travel and to apply online and in plenty of time.