The Irish Passport Office is set to double its staff to deal with the current backlog.
Its expecting to process 1.3 to 1.7 million new passport applications next year, as travel resumes and British people with ties to Ireland continue to apply.
Dublin TD Alan Farrell says a recruitment process is underway to help ease pressure on the service.
"The Mnister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has provided for an additional 384 permanent and temporary staff that are being hired between now and the end of January.
"That will take the number of staff that are processing passport applications up to 920."
