The term taken by the Government to issue passports to citizens living in the Transnistrian area has been prolonged with 6 months, till the end of 2008, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to Pavel Buceatchi, the Info-Development Minister, there are 555,500 people living in that area now, 429,000 being older than 16. Before adopting the relevant decision in September 2005, only 153,000 residents (35.7%) had Moldovan IDs. Now the ratio is 58.7%. The Informational Development Minister says, after adopting the decision, the population registering offices close to the Transnistrian area were entitled to issue IDs only on the basis of applications. The main quarters have been inaugurated in Anenii Noi town. Pavel Buceatchi says prolonging the term of documenting the population living in the Eastern districts will boost the process of issuing Moldovan identity cards. 203,200 Transnistrian residents have Moldovan passports, as 197,900 have ID cards. The Ministry has the information about 31,300 children (24.7%) living in that Moldovan area.