300 a day shortfall at Cork offices

THE number of passports being issued to applicants in Cork is falling short of demand by almost 300 a day – despite more than 700 documents being made available in the past 24 hours.

Staff at the office at South Mall in Cork city yesterday confirmed that while hundreds of passports are being issued, delays are still occurring because up to 1,000 new applications are occurring daily either in person or by post.

The number of people calling to the Cork office have consistently been lower compared with the Molesworth Street, Dublin, branch.

In addition, the decision by the Cork office’s staff and management to divide applicants into emergency cases and normal applications has led to fewer delays.

However, a surge in those attending the office means passport applicants can still expect average waiting times of between one and two hours, with some people queuing from 5am yesterday morning.

Among those to be turned away since the industrial action began was 15-year-old boxer Martin McGuire, who was due to represent Ireland in an underage tournament in California this summer.

In order to confirm his participation, the Lough Mahon club member had to receive a passport by today – a situation made impossible by the industrial action.

Normal passport applications from Cork are unlikely to be processed for two weeks, as all passports have to be printed in Balbriggan and Molesworth Street.

However, despite some members of the public being told on Tuesday that the office would be unable to provide emergency passports in the majority of cases, officials have since confirmed that in extreme cases they will be provided.

Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU) general secretary Blair Horan accepted that delays were still occurring in the Cork office, but that unexpected delays at the facility would be unavoidable in the current climate.