People are being urged to ensure they have a valid passport before travelling abroad this summer. The Passport Service is to hire temporary summer staff to deal with increased demands.

The measure will see a new rapid renewal service for last-minute passport issues and an extension to the appointments system for urgent issues at the Cork office.

It will also see a Twitter account to outline the latest passport news. The Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore is advising holiday makers to take advantage of the arrangements.

A pilot Rapid Renewal programme - based in the Dublin office on Molesworth Street - will allow one-day passport renewals for citizens who have a last-minute passport issue.

A total of 20 appointments will be available every day until October.

While in both Dublin and Cork, an appointment system for quick turnaround is available which allows customers to book, though a web-based system, time slots before travelling into the Passport Office.

The Passport Express system is being billed as the fastest and cheapest way to apply. This can be done through the local post office in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

It aims to have passports back in 10 working days from the receipt of fully completed applications.