Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue. I acknowledge that it was selected a number of weeks ago but neither the Minister nor the Minister of State was available. I appreciate that the Minster of State, Deputy Humphreys, has come in today despite the pressing demands on him.

With the Acting Chairman's indulgence, I intend to speak just once on this occasion. I have some visitors to the audiovisual room today, members of the Irish Cancer Society and the Movember movement, whom I do not want to detain. I am quite sure I am going to be satisfied with the Minister of State's reply and acknowledge his willingness to engage with me on this issue outside the Dáil.

It is difficult to talk about the public services card without referring to social welfare fraud. I acknowledge the role played by the Tánaiste and Minster for Social Protection, her Department, and the Minister of State, Deputy Humphreys, since coming into government in 2011 in dealing with this in a most serious way. Many people, including many in my constituency, had been calling for such action for long years. However, I would contend that there are certain areas that may need to be tweaked or where a little bit of flexibility needs to be displayed. I have received numerous correspondences from people who are caught in situations and, although they are very willing to engage with the Department of Social Protection at every opportunity, sometimes things do not work out. In my view they have been unfairly penalised.

To give one example, I recently heard from a non-consultant hospital doctor who is obliged to spend 12 months in training in HSE hospitals at various locations around the country. In the circumstances this person has had to move house on a number of occasions. Oftentimes junior doctors work long hours and this doctor was not able to meet the appointments that were set up, but has made very serious attempts to contact the officials. I have evidence to show that these attempts include registration of letters and numerous telephone calls. There was great difficulty even in having telephone calls answered. This is a person who, because of their profession, has never availed of social protection payments other than child benefit. I only have time to cite one example today but have numerous others on hand. Without notice, this doctor's child benefit was stopped. The wheels have been turning again to try to get it reinstated.

I raise this example while appreciating all the good that has come out of the public services card and the efforts that have been made by the Tánaiste, her Minister of State and the Department in dealing with social welfare fraud. In certain cases, flexibility needs to be shown to give people assurance that they will not be unfairly penalised in the way this doctor was.

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I thank the Deputy. He is right that the public services card has been a fantastic success in many ways, including in simplifying use of free travel etc. and not just in terms of fraud. It has been very good and is best practice. It was initiated by our predecessors in 2005 and I acknowledge the interdepartmental work done in the very early stages.

The Deputy talks about tweaking it for the exceptions. As he will understand, there are about 1.6 million public services cards in operation. I will confirm that figure with him at another time. In many ways, we have tweaked the system. When a person who receives an invitation to attend a public services card registration meeting is unable to do so due to illness or disability, we settle that and leave it for 12 months for people to recover and their benefits continue. We are looking at other areas such as people with intellectual disabilities and how we can deal with them in a caring manner. We are reviewing how we will deal with our clients in that manner and considering the best practice and process.

The Deputy referred in particular to child benefit. It is a social welfare payment the same as all the others and there is a necessity to ensure that the people claiming it are who they say they are. There needs to be a robust system to ensure we are paying child benefit to those who are eligible for it. I take on board the Deputy's point about tweaking it. If he would like to bring the individual case to my attention I would be happy to deal with it personally.

We have tweaked the system and are continuously doing so. For certain people with illnesses or disabilities who want the public services card, if requested we can now go out and do the meeting in their own homes. The flexibility is being built into the system. We are improving it all the time and I certainly take on board the case the Deputy has pointed out today.

Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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If I might add, the issue of change of address should be incorporated with those other changes, including flexibility around illness and disability.

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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If there is a lesson to be learned from the individual case the Deputy has raised we will endeavour to take it on board.

Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am grateful.