Tánaiste confirms new passport office to open in Cork city in 2026

A new passport office with additional staff is to be operational in Cork by autumn next year, with a Cork TD asking Tánaiste Simon Harris to consider including passport printing facilities there.

The public offices in Dublin and Cork operate an urgent appointment service for renewal applications. The Dublin office offers one-day and four-day turnaround services, while the Cork office offers a four-day turnaround service.

Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul O’Shea has asked for this one-day turnaround service to be made available in Cork.

Records

Mr Harris explained: “Our records show that, between the two locations, just 1.6% of all passport applicants avail of this service. So much is done online now.

“During 2024, there were an average of 240 appointments available in Cork each year. Throughout that year, however, only 26% of appointments available in Cork were taken up.

“We have significant spare appointment capacity, which is a good thing.”

Currently, the passport service operates three passport book printing machines, with two in the main production facility at the Balbriggan campus and the third in the Dublin office on Mount Street.

“The passport service estimates the initial capital cost of purchasing and installing a new printer and mailing machine to be approximately €5.3m,” said Mr Harris.

“In addition to this are costs associated with capital investment and the requirement for expert engineers on site. The running and maintenance costs alone are estimated to be a further €600,000.”

Increasing

He said that they are increasing the number of people working in the Cork passport office with a new premises identified by the department and the OPW, which he confirmed “will have capacity for 140 staff compared with the 115 staff who are currently assigned”.

Mr O’Shea said that it is disappointing that there is no passport printing facility in Cork but two in Dublin.

“The challenge is that if an urgent appointment is required, the people of Cork and Munster have to travel to Dublin for a one-day service appointment to get that urgent passport.”

Mr Harris responded: “We are committed to Cork, to our passport office and to the new passport office. We will have the new office operational by autumn 2026 at Navigation Square in Cork city.

“My department is not convinced of the business case for the printing machine but we will continue to keep this under review. Perhaps next time I am in Cork, we might visit the passport service together and consider that further.

“We are continuing to do everything we can to reduce the number of people who ever need to travel for an in-person appointment. I am really encouraged to see that that is less than 2% of people,” he added.