The Tanaiste has urged people to remember that people should exercise caution when making a transaction online as people have been scammed by third party websites claiming to assist people with their passport applications.

These websites charge a fee but are not affiliated with the Department of Foreign Affairs or the passport office.

However, Micheál Martin has said that there are no plans to run an awareness campaign around the issue, the Irish Mirror reports.

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He said: "Such websites advertising their services for a premium are not authorised to do so by the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Passport Service. The Passport Service is not responsible for the content of, or fees charged, by these sites.

"Members of the public should, of course, at all times exercise extreme caution when conducting any financial transactions online.

"There are no current plans to run a public awareness campaign about this issue."

He said the Passport Service is working on an update to its website to advise citizens that online applications should only be made at www.dfa.ie/passports.

The warning comes after it was revealed the Irish passport will be getting a makeover soon. As well as this, the public will get to weigh in on design choices for the new passport.

The project to redesign the passport is to begin later this year and is being conducted in order to provide the latest security features but also to “continue to communicate Irish culture and values".

The current passport is 10 years old and the International Civil Aviation Authority recommends documents undergo revamps frequently to include the latest security features.

A public consultation will take place through a short online questionnaire, which is to be available from tomorrow, where citizens will be asked to consider which Irish flora and fauna they think should be included in the design.

A design team in the Department of Foreign Affairs is currently considering themes which are understood to be “anchored in Ireland’s natural environment”.

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