The Irish Examiner reports the Department told an Oireachtas committee that the machine itself would cost around €3 million to buy and €600,000 a year to run.
Installation and structural work including reinforced flooring, a stock room fitted with a vault and a plant room would cost an additional €2 million.
All passports are currently being printed in Dublin.
The issue of turnaround times for passport applications and renewals was highlighted earlier this year due to the severe backlogs that resulted in the "Passport Express" service being renamed "Post Passport".
