The Online Passport Renewal Service has been given a makeover, and the new service will make it easier for people to renew their passports online.

It will launch on Wednesday 28 November, but due to technical work that has to take place before its launch, the online service will be unavailable from today until Tuesday 27th.

It was first introduced in March 2017, and currently permits adult passport renewal applications and adult passport card applications.

 However, the newly expanded service will for the first time:

• Permit the online renewal of children’s passports;
• Introduce the options of a passport card for children;
• Expand the categories of adults who can renew or replace their passports online.

Although the service being unavailable from today until the 27th, Minister Ciaran Cannon has said that all passport applications currently in the system will be processed as normal and this maintenance period will not affect any passport turnaround times which is ten working days for online applications.

Minister Cannon said: “During this upgrade citizens who urgently need to renew their passport can do so via the rapid renewal service at the Dublin and Cork Passport Office, appointments for which can be made at https://www.passportappointments.ie/ .”

Minister Charlie Flanagan has today confirmed that the old Courthouse in Tuam has been approved for refurbishment.

The 180-year-old building has been vacant for about 15 years.

As the building is a protected structure, the OPW will consult with Galway County Council on the appropriate measures to be taken.

Other courthouses around the country have also been approved for refurbishment.

Galway East TD Ciaran Cannon welcomed the news, and said: “The Courthouse is an important heritage structure, dating from about 1840 and many have remarked on its derelict appearance since its closure.

“The Office of Public Works will work with the Court Services to devise an appropriate design for a courthouse that will be fit for modern purpose and as the building is designated a protected structure, the OPW will consult with Galway County Council on the appropriate measures to be taken.

“This building has been part of Tuam`s heritage-scape for about 180 years and I am delighted that its refurbishment will provide the town with a fixed home for court proceedings.”

More heat and power generation alternatives are needed before introducing carbon taxation of €80 – €90 per ton, a Galway West TD has said.

Fine Gael TD Hildegarde Naughton, who is Chair of the Climate Action Committee, said that the cross-party committee is reviewing the entire State response to Climate Change.

“The Committee must outline a roadmap towards carbon pricing in its report in January,” she said, adding that Ireland needs to do more to tackle the issue of climate change.

Deputy Naughton added: “Ireland has not done enough. No doubt about that.

“But any solution needs cross party support as the choices to be made may not be faced up to when difficult decisions have to be taken.

“We need to have an agreed pathway to reduce our carbon emissions in place no matter what party is in Government.”

She said that they cannot force people into fuel poverty by introducing a significant price of carbon increase where no alternatives to fossil fuels are available.

“There needs to be a substantial increase in alternative forms of heat and power generation before we could introduce such a large tax increase.

“If we have alternatives in place by 2030 it is very conceivable that the cost of carbon could increase to €80 or €90 per metric ton, or even beyond.

“This would then serve as an incentive to use more carbon efficient forms of heat and power generation,” added Deputy Naughton.