Offaly constituents urged to check passports to avoid losing thousands on summer holidays

Published: Tue 21 Apr 2026, 2:47 PM

Offaly constituents have been urged to check passports to avoid losing thousands on summer holidays.

Independent TD for Offaly TD Carol Nolan is reminding constituents to ensure their passports are valid well in advance of any foreign travel plans this year.

Commenting on official figures received today from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in response to a Parliamentary Question she tabled, Deputy Nolan noted the very high demand for passports among Offaly families.

The data shows that in 2025 alone, 8,809 passports were issued to people living in Offaly (6,376 adults and 2,433 children).

So far in 2026 (up to 16 April), a further 2,161 passports have already been processed:

“With the summer holidays fast approaching, I am urging every constituent to check the expiry date on their passport immediately. I have personally dealt with families who were on the verge of losing thousands of euros on non-refundable holidays because of delays in the passport application process,” Deputy Nolan said.

“People must factor in the possibility that their application could be returned if the photographs do not meet the strict standards required. This can add several weeks to the process. The safest approach is always to apply well ahead of time, especially for families with young children who may need their first passport.”

Deputy Nolan welcomed the fact that the Passport Service is currently meeting demand and has issued over 300,000 passports nationwide so far this year and she encouraged everyone to use the Passport Online service, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and now accounts for over 96% of all applications:

“Applying online is quick, efficient and can be done from anywhere in the world,” she added. “But even with a streamlined service, the message I have for constituents is please don’t leave it until the last minute. A little planning now can save an awful lot of stress and expense later,” Deputy Nolan concluded.