More than 130 temporary clerical officers will be recruited this summer to cope with the demand for new passports as almost 100,000 applications have been received in the first seven weeks of 2013.
Highest demand for new passports occurs between April and July each year, when almost 50 per cent of applications are received.
Since January 1st this year, the passport service has received some 90,000 applications, according to Department of Foreign Affairs figures. Last year more than 600,000 new passports were issued, an increase of more than 5 per cent on the previous year.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore described demand for the passport service as "highly seasonal". He told Labour Dublin North East TD Tommy Broughan, in a written reply to a parliamentary question, that 133 temporary clerical officers would be recruited this year and "allocated across all offices in the passport service".
Mr Gilmore said 599,468 passports were issued in 2011 and 631,939 were issued last year.
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