Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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The OPW is scheduled to come in and it is in here every year. We will specifically deal with this matter at that time. We note and publish that letter.

No. 2427is from Mr. Robert Watt, Secretary General, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, providing a response to our request for further information regarding the public services card. We requested the following information: a list of all public bodies that are considering using, or have made the decision to use, the public services card to date and whether the use of the card may be impacted upon by the commission’s final investigation report. There is also an information note outlining what stage the public services card project is at in each of the public bodies. Related correspondence is No. 2441, which is also from Mr. Watt. It refers the committee to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in the context of obtaining a copy of the business case in respect of the public services card. We asked the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to give us a list of the public bodies and what stage the project was at in the various public bodies. His letter came back and made no reference whatever to the letter we wrote. He wanted to explain how wonderful the public services card is and that there is a high acceptance rate among many people who use it. He specifically says that despite some attempts of some sectors of the media to suggest otherwise, it is clear that the public are hugely supportive of this particular issue. He told us what people know - why we want the card - but he made zero effort to answer the question of the Committee of Public Accounts in respect of the organisations. He does say in his subsequent email that we should get a copy of the business case for the public services card from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, which we will do, and maybe it can answer the question.