73. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will review the passport online photograph verification process in light of reports from applicants whose photographs were accepted by the online system at submission stage but subsequently rejected during manual examination, causing delays and additional inconvenience; whether her Department has assessed the frequency of such occurrences; and the steps being taken to ensure greater consistency between automated and manual verification processes. [63303/26]

The Passport Service is successfully meeting the current level of demand for passports and has issued over 675,000 passports to date this year.

The Passport Online service offers citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Over 97% of all passport applications are now made through Passport Online which is available to 100% of all applicants globally.

The Passport Service complies with the photo regulations and passport guidelines set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The ICAO is a UN agency that defines in detail the required format for travel documents.

The Passport Service continuously monitors issues affecting customers, including those around photo submission, and works to enhance the service and provide efficiencies for customers on an ongoing basis. The rate of rejection for a new photo is approximately 5% of applications received.

While the online system performs an automated preliminary photograph check when the applicant submits their initial application, every photograph is subsequently reviewed by an experienced member of Passport Service staff for quality assurance.

There are a variety of reasons why an applicant may be required to submit a new photo for their passport application. These may include issues with the photo background, closed eyes or incorrect size.

Online applications for which replacement photos are requested, are processed within a maximum of 10 working days upon the receipt of the new photo.

The Passport Service has extensive public education materials, including video tutorials on taking a passport photo and detailed instructions on the application process, available on my Department’s website: www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/photo-guidelines/.

The Passport Service's programme of reform will continue throughout this year and into next year, with the delivery of a number of 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. The Reform Programme includes improvements to the Passport Online website including the submission of passport photos.

I would ask the Deputy to encourage their constituents who are travelling this year, particularly those with young children who require their first passport, to apply online and in plenty of time.

Should assistance be required with an application, Customer Service agents are available by phone and WebChat services from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. The Customer Service Hub can be contacted at +353 1 671 1633, or via the WebChat service: www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/contact-us/.