Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the process whereby older Irish emigrants wishing to apply for a PPS number may obtain one while resident outside of the State; the identification which is acceptable in the absence of a current passport or national identity card, neither of which many older persons have; the length of time it takes to process these applications (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12170/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The personal public service number is the citizen's unique reference number for all dealings with Departments and public bodies.

In order to ensure a person receives only one number, and that the number is allocated on information that is accurate and verified, certain procedures are set down to be followed by offices of my Department when dealing with applications. It is necessary to have effective controls around the PPS No. registration process to guard against fraud and to protect the integrity of my Department's data.

Evidence of identity is a vital element of the allocation process. A PPS No. does not issue automatically, except in the case of children born in this jurisdiction. In all other cases application must be made at one of my Department's offices. In the case of persons resident outside the State, application can be made by post to the client identity services section of my Department.

When applying for a PPS No., applicants are asked to complete an application form and supply documentation to establish their identity. Once this is done satisfactorily they are usually informed of their PPS No. by post within five days. The identity documentation that applicants who are not resident in Ireland are requested to supply is a long form birth certificate. Alternatively, they can furnish a copy of their current valid passport.

My Department only asks for documents that a person is likely to have in his or her possession or may reasonably obtain. I would always be sympathetic to a person who, for reasons of age or infirmity, might have difficulty obtaining such documents. Where queries arise, staff in the client identity services section of the Department provide advice and assistance to an applicant or someone acting on his or her behalf. My officials are not aware of any specific difficulty encountered by Irish emigrants living abroad who need PPS numbers to have their names included on the housing needs list. Given the specific issues raised by the Deputy, officials from the Department will contact him with a view to obtaining further information so that they can carry out a complete investigation of these issues.

Representatives of the safe home initiative or any emigrant representative groups who wish to discuss these issues should contact the client identity services of the Department to arrange a meeting at which particular issues or difficulties they may encounter can be addressed.

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for his competent reply. I note the value of a PPS number and the need to ensure that the recipient is the person he or she claims to be. The reason for my question was the recent requirement for anyone wishing to be included in the housing assessment of need for 2005 to have a PPS. A problem for old Irish emigrants living abroad and hoping to be repatriated to the safe home programme was that owing to the strict time limits imposed and the lack of documentation, passport or national identity card, this was not possible for the majority of applicants. It meant their names would not be in the pot under the assessment of need for the capital assistance scheme. The form provides for a passport or national identity card which confirms the identity of the applicant. In the case of a minor it appears to be qualified to a copy of a birth certificate, so I am glad the Minister has spelt out that a long copy of a birth certificate will be acceptable as many older people will not have access to a passport or a national identity card.

The Minister has more or less answered this, but in the case of someone living abroad who does not have easy access to a passport, birth certificate or national identity card, can he offer any assistance to those who face real difficulties in such situations? I refer to older Irish people in particular who live abroad. There is also a need for clearer, more straightforward application forms. The Department might attempt to do this, but it is often confusing for older people.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I confirm again that the officials will be in touch with the Deputy to discuss these matters with him in detail. People are normally informed of their PPS numbers by post within five days. The Department will certainly offer advice and assistance to anyone who has difficulty in obtaining documentation that is required for identification.