Written answers

Thursday, 11 May 2006

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Fraud

4:00 pm

Photo of Liz McManusLiz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps he is taking to prevent bogus applications for PPS numbers and to ensure the integrity of the PPS number system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17377/06]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department assumed sole responsibility for the allocation of Personal Public Service (PPS) Numbers in June 2000. Since then my Department has put in place and continuously improved operational structures and processes. Last year just over 270,000 PPS Numbers were allocated, up from approximately 220,000 in 2004.

It is necessary to have effective controls around the PPS No. registration process to guard against fraud and to protect the integrity of data under my Department's control. Processes are in place to ensure that a person receives only one number, and that the number is allocated based on information that is accurate and verified. Applicants for PPS Numbers are asked to complete an application form and supply documentation to establish their identity. Evidence of identity is a vital element of the allocation process.

My Department has a dedicated section dealing with identity fraud in PPS No. allocations. The staff in this section receives training in the area of document fraud from a number of sources, including the relevant issuing authorities, via their embassies, and from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). This section operates a full time help desk facility for front line staff and provides training and support to them in dealing with identity issues.

Whenever doubts arise as to the authenticity of documentation presented by an applicant, staff contact this section for assistance and can, if necessary, refer the identity documents for further examination. In 2005, a total of 1,393 documents were referred to the central help desk for checking. Of these, 377 were found to have been forged or altered. The equivalent figure for 2004 is 324. In any case where documentation presented is found to have been compromised, no PPS No is allocated.

In addition to the central help desk facility, equipment has been installed in each of my Department's local and branch offices to assist in the identification of forged or altered documentation.

As part of a continual review of the PPS Number allocation process, my Department is putting in place measures to reduce the number of centres dealing with applications for PPS Numbers, along with modernising the technical and communication structures supporting the process. This will lead to improved expertise at local level and to more effective controls.

Plans are in place to expand the role of my Department's inspectorate identity work, in order to increase its focus on the issue of hijacked and bogus identities, as well as improving the support to local offices involved in registering applications for PPS numbers.

The PPS Number is the individual's unique reference number for dealings with Government Departments and public bodies. I am committed to the highest standards of control in the allocation of the numbers and to an efficient and effective management of the issue of identity fraud. I am satisfied that the actions of my Department to date demonstrate this commitment.

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