The number of passports issued in the first eight months of the year rose by almost 5 per cent compared to the same period in 2011. Figures released by the Minister for Foreign Affairs show 489,012 passports were issued between January and August 2012.
Eamon Gilmore said the figure represented an increase of 4.63 per cent on the number of passports issued in the first eight months of 2011.
Last year just under 600,000 passports were issued.
In a written parliamentary reply to Labour TD Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East), Mr Gilmore said the technology system “currently does not differentiate between passports renewed and first-time applications for passports”.