Minister Cowen, “Announces that the number of Passports issued in the year 2001 has risen to a new record level”

• The number of passports issued by the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork for the year 2001 will be approximately 400,000.

• This represents an increase of over 2% on 2000 levels, and an overall increase of over 73% in annual demand for passports over the past 5 years.

• The total number of passports issued by the two Passport Offices in Ireland and by Irish missions abroad during 2001 will amount to approximately 485,000.

• The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, T.D. in making the announcement congratulated the Staff of the Passport Offices on their achievement in meeting deadlines in what has been yet another record year for the number of passports issue.

• Minister Cowen also welcomed the fact that “Almost 70% of all passport applicants in the State now use the “ Passport Express” system”, whereby, passport applicants can apply for a passport at over 1,000 Post Offices throughout the country and be assured of receiving their passport within 10 working days. Since Passport Express was introduced in 1995 the number of applications submitted through that system has almost doubled.

• Minister Cowen went on to say “the partnership between the Passport Office and An Post has worked exceptionally well, and I would encourage more applicants to use Passport Express which is the most efficient and convenient method of applying for a passport”Top