Passport Office to outsource helpline

The Passport Office is to outsource the operation of its helpline, to cope with an

anticipated huge volume of calls from worried holidaymakers.

Last June, there were 133,000 calls and up to 21,000 emails to its contact centre, but

only ten temporary staff were employed to answer queries.

The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it was now putting the service out to

tender, with the aim of having a private company operate ...