Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 377: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will confirm his Department's computer records include all social welfare contributions made by married women who had a PRSI number in their own name prior to their marriage and then that number was merged with that of their husband and social insurance stamps purchased by them prior to their marriage is updated on to their personal records and that there are no instances of records being lost in the Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27717/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, with regard to married women who had a PRSI number in their own name prior to their marriage and then that number was merged with that of their husband, the computer records in his Department include all social welfare contributions made by these people and social insurance stamps purchased by them prior to their marriage; if same is updated on to their personal records and that there are no instances of records being lost in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27591/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 389 together.

Prior to April 1979, each individual worker liable for social insurance deductions was given a unique social insurance number, regardless of marital status, and this was the key identifier for recording of social insurance contributions deducted in respect of their employment(s).

The social insurance number was replaced by the Revenue and Social Insurance (RSI) number which was then used for both social welfare and PAYE purposes. The management and allocation of numbers remained primarily the responsibility of the Revenue Commissioners and, at that time, it was the practice to link the records of spouses using the same RSI number but with an additional character ("w") to enable their employment and contribution details to be recorded separately. Therefore, while there was a similarity between the numbers, the recording of social insurance and other relevant details was maintained on the basis of two distinct records. Quality control measures were put in place to ensure that contributions received on behalf of a person were not inadvertently updated to the records of his or her spouse. Procedures were also introduced to rectify any errors or omissions that might occur from time to time.

Since June 2000, following the introduction of the current Personal Public Services (PPS) number, my Department has sole responsibility for the PPS number registration process. The PPS number is a unique reference number for all dealings with Government Departments and public bodies and the Department is committed to the highest standards of control in the allocation of numbers and the maintenance of accurate records into the future. I would like to mention that, if the Deputy is aware of any specific case where there is concern over the recording of contributions, I will arrange to have the matter investigated on receipt of the relevant details.