204. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will consider introducing an auto renewal/reminder system for all Irish passports six months prior to a passport expiring; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54461/26]

The Passport Service is successfully responding to a high level of demand for passports and has issued over half a million passports to date this year.

The Government has invested considerably in modernising, improving and protecting the Irish passport, along with the environment and systems that underpin service delivery for citizens. The Passport Service continually works to enhance the service and provide efficiencies for customers under the Passport Reform Programme.

The Passport Service takes every opportunity to remind citizens to check their passport validity. Each year the Passport Service proactively plans for the demand forecasted for the year ahead. Part of this planning involves an extensive public communications campaign to encourage citizens to apply, through Passport Online, in plenty of time for their passport prior to travel. This year's campaign focused on driving awareness amongst citizens, particularly parents of newborns and young children, that Passport Online was the fastest, easiest and most cost-effective way to apply for their passport.

Passport Online allows citizens to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is available to 100% of applicants globally. As a matter of best practice, applicants should check the validity of their passport before booking travel.

The Passport Service's programme of reform will continue throughout 2026 and into next year, with the delivery of several highly complex and transformational projects that are necessary to future-proof service delivery, enhance the customer experience, ensure business continuity, and safeguard the integrity of the Irish passport. Successful delivery of these projects will ensure that Ireland remains at the forefront of passport processing worldwide.

Last month, I launched a redesigned and modernised new Irish passport book and card. This project has also encompassed the replacement of high-security printing machinery required for passport personalisation.

Along with other upgrades to the Passport Service's systems, in 2027 citizens applying for a passport for the first time or renewing their passport will be able to opt in to receive electronic communications, including passport expiry reminder notices, from the Passport Service.

This service will be opt-in for several reasons. My Department has a statutory obligation from a data protection perspective to only use personal data, which may include home addresses or email addresses, where it is satisfied the data is accurate and up-to-date and would, therefore, be precluded from automatically using addresses used for the dispatch of passports 10 years ago. Unlike car tax or travel insurance, adult passports expire every 10 years and individuals’ circumstances or contact details may have changed in the interim.