Contact tracing staff redeploying to tackle passport backlog crisis

Covid-19 contact tracing staff have been redeployed to deal with the current backlog in passport applications.

According to the Irish Independent, some staff in Limerick will start with the local Department of Foreign Affairs from next month.

However teams in Dublin and Cork are expected to remain on contact tracing duties.

Last month saw 195 thousand people waiting on passports, with the Department seeing a 50-60% increase in applications.