Sinn Fein has welcomed a Department of Foreign Affairs announcement that it is considering opening a passport office in the North.
Mr Pat Doherty, an Assembly member for West Tyrone, said an office should be set up before the summer.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has said it is considering opening an office in the North due to the large increase in demand for Irish passports from people with Northern Ireland addresses. In 1994, 7,779 such applications were made, and this rose to 21,434 in 1999. A Department spokeswoman said a location had not been identified.
