Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if an application form will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork to enable them to obtain a PPS number. [37381/05]

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. A PPS number does not issue automatically except in the case of children born in Ireland. In all other cases application must be made in person at one of the Department's local offices. It is necessary to have effective controls around the PPS number registration process to guard against fraud and to protect the integrity of my Department's data. It is also important to ensure that a person receives only one number, and that the number is allocated on information that is accurate and verified and therefore certain procedures are set down to be followed by officers of my Department when dealing with applications.

Evidence of identity is a vital element of the allocation process. When applying for a PPS number, applicants are asked to complete an application form and supply documentation to establish their identity. In the case of an EU citizen, they will be asked to provide a current valid passport and evidence of residence in this country, for example a copy of a tenancy agreement and-or a utility bill. Once the application is satisfactorily completed, people are usually informed of their PPS number by post within five days. Staff in the client identity services section of my Department will provide advice and assistance to an applicant or someone acting on their behalf if any difficulties arise.