The Irish Passport Office is now issuing an average of 7,000 passports per day, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney.
A record 1.4 million passport applications are expected this year and many first time applicants are reporting long delays.
TDs have warned applicants that issues with the witness signature step is the main reason for delays in applications and advised the public to go to a manned garda station to avoid any hold-up.
Read more: I applied for my child's first passport. One step was a nightmare
However, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has emphasised that staff in the Passport Office are "working flat out" to process applications.
He tweeted on Friday: "Update from passport office. Across Tue, Wed & Thurs this week we printed & issued 21,000 passports, an avg of 7,000 per day responding to unprecedented demand. Staff working flat out to deliver for the public."
Earlier this week, Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway said that the delays in the Passport Office may require a full time Minister of State to deal with.
He said on Newstalk: "Unfortunately, there’s a major problem now with passports in this country.
"And I do think it requires somebody who can just roll up their sleeves, go in and focus 100% of their time until the problem is resolved."
However, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar was not enthused by the idea, saying he's "not sure" a junior minister would rectify the issue.
He said: "Suggestions are always welcome.
"But I’m not sure another junior minister would solve that particular problem but it is a real problem I have to say.
"I’m a Dublin TD, we wouldn’t usually get many constituents ringing us about passport issues and I’d say maybe 30, 40% of the cases coming through my office now are passport queries."
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