Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, has called on the Irish Government to open a passport office in Belfast to meet the unprecedented demand for Irish passports.

Crowe stated there were 46,257 applications from the North between January and July this year, an increase of 18.85 % on last year.

Deputy Crowe said:

“The huge increase in citizens in the North looking for an Irish Passport, particularly following the Brexit vote, merits a new approach, and in my opinion, a new office being opened to meet this growing demand.

“There were 46,257 passport applications from the Six Counties between January and July of this year, that’s an 18.85% increase on the same time last year.

“After the EU referendum result some post offices in Belfast ran out of passport forms such was the rise in demand.

“With passport applications continuing to rise it is clear that a passport office in Belfast makes practical and logistical sense. It would also make the application process much easier for Irish citizens based in the North of Ireland.

“I am calling on the Irish Government and Minister Charlie Flanagan to urgently investigate this possibility and to begin the process of opening a passport office in a convenient location like Belfast.”

ENDS