More Irish passports will be issued this year than ever before - evidence, according to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, of the strength of the Irish economy. In all, 300,000 passports are expected to be issued this year, Mr Andrews said in a statement. This is up 14 per cent on last year.
The demand for passports has been rising steadily in the 1990s. In the five years to 1997, annual applications for passports rose by nearly 38 per cent.
"The continuing increase in demand for passports reflects the strength of the Irish economy which has resulted in more Irish people travelling abroad," Mr Andrews said.
He said the recently-introduced Passport Express service, through which passports can be ordered at post offices, had reduced waiting times and queues at the passport offices in Dublin and Cork.
The Dublin and Cork offices have been extended and refurbished and both are committed to issuing passports within 10 working days in response to properly-completed applications, he said.
Meanwhile, European airports are seeing a rise in business this summer compared to summer of 1997, according to Airports Council International, which represents the interests of 396 European airports.
Dublin Airport is handling an extra 140 direct scheduled flights a week this summer and Shannon is handling an extra 21 such flights.