Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of duplicate PPS numbers that have been handed out in error since 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30144/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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A PPS Number is automatically issued in the case of children born in Ireland. In other cases application must be made in person at one of the Department's network of Local Offices. PPS Numbers are issued following a controlled allocation procedure, involving a personal attendance at the office, the completion of a written application form and the submission and authentication of appropriate identity documents.

Once the identity of an individual is verified, his/her relevant identity data is entered by local staff to the Central Records System (CRS) and a PPS Number allocated overnight. A number of system validation checks are part of this process to prevent multiple PPS Numbers being issued to the same individual. The current allocation process does not permit duplicate numbers to be issued. My Department continues to develop/refine standards for registration and control to take into account its experience in managing the number.