Call for express service for Irish passports in Castlewellan
Independent Slieve Croob Councillor Patrick Clarke has called for both the availability of application forms for Irish passports and the extension of the express service for Irish Passports at Castlewellan Post Office and has now written to both the Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan and the Post Office.
Councillor Patrick Clarke stated, “Currently the nearest Post Offices which currently process Irish Passports under the express service are in Downpatrick and Newry which means many constituents in my electoral area of Slieve Croob cannot use Castlewellan Post Office to avail of this service.”
“With Castlewellan as a main town and tourist location I would like availability of Irish passport application forms and also the express service for Irish Passports being extended to Castlewellan Post Office and I have now made written representations to both the Minister for Irish Foreign Affairs and the Post Office.”
“As a Councillor I regularly sign both Irish and UK/EU passport applications and photographs on a weekly basis on behalf of my constituents, many of which regularly raise the issue with me of travelling to Newry or Downpatrick to avail of the Irish passport express service.”
Clarke continued, “Many people would like this facility in their local post office such as Castlewellan and with the added influx of people also now applying for Irish passports also since the Brexit vote to leave the EU, I know many more people will be continuing to travel to Newry and Downpatrick post offices.
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“It would make a lot of sense to have the express service for Irish Passports at Castlewellan Post Office and that certainly seems to be the feeling of a lot of people particularly when wishing to obtain an Irish application form, which cannot be downloaded from the Department of Foreign Affairs website.”
“I have also now liaised with the Postmaster of Castlewellan who is very enthusiastic and keen about wishing to provide the extra service at Castlewellan Post Office of providing Irish passport application forms and processing Irish Passports,” he added.
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