David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 309: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of notifications received by his Department of PPS numbers which are no longer active each year from 2002 to 2006 inclusive; the number of same which have been reissued as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5715/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Personal Public Service Number (PPS No.) is an individual's unique reference number for dealings with Government Departments and public bodies. Once issued, it is intended to have validity over a person's lifetime. A person generally retains the number whether or not it is used to access services on an ongoing basis. Records are noted on death or where there are concerns about identity in particular cases. However, there is no provision for systematic reissue of numbers which are not currently being used to access services and, bearing in mind the range of services which could be involved, any such arrangement would not be appropriate.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 310: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of PPS numbers issued by his Department each year from 2002 to 2006 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5716/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The number of PPS Numbers allocated each year from 2002 to 2006 is as follows:

2002: 215,567

2003: 91,629

2004: 219,982

2005: 271,224

2006: 311,791

The Department of Social & Family Affairs is the sole issuer of PPS Numbers. Children born in Ireland are automatically allocated a PPS Number when their birth is notified to the Department via the General Registers Office (GRO). In other cases, application must be made at one of my Department's local offices. When applying for a PPS Number, applicants are required to prove their identity.