Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 679: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress made regarding the programme for Government commitment to integrate the tax and social welfare systems fully to allow for more efficient data and money transfer mechanisms and to provide for a fully integrated PPS number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29933/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has taken a lead role over the years in developing and implementing identity management policies and procedures based on the use of the Personal Public Services (PPS) number. This number was previously known as the Revenue and Social Insurance (RSI) number. The name was changed to indicate the broadening of its role to one which supports delivery of a broader range of public services but it is also still used for its original core purpose of providing a common identifier for the Revenue Commissioners and this Department.

As well as facilitating wider-scale exchange of information, the PPS number also has a role in the development of on-line services for individuals. The Department provides identity related services to a number of agencies in accordance with legislation.

The overall Government strategy is to realise the potential of the Information Society through innovation and modernisation of public services. As part of this, the Standard Authentication Framework Environment programme, co-chaired by this Department and the Department of Finance, provides the basis for a consistent set of registration and authentication services for customer interaction with public services.

The Department is developing a Public Services Card (PSC), to replace the existing Social Services Card. The aim is to develop a card that acts as a key for access to public services in general, identifying and authenticating individuals as appropriate and where required. The necessary legislative provisions were included in the 2007 Social Welfare and Pensions Act.

In December 2008, the Department and the Revenue Commissioners signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the purpose of improving and intensifying the levels and scope of existing policy, consultative, administrative and operational co-operative arrangements between them. The Department and the Revenue Commissioners recognize the necessity for clear and unambiguous communication and consultation on any policy, legislative, administrative, operational and modernisation proposals which may have implications for either organisation. This will include, for example, proposals being brought forward in the context of, inter alia, the Budget, Finance Act(s), Social Welfare Act(s), and national social partnership agreements.The Department will continue to explore on the basis of these ongoing developments how greater data and money transfer efficiencies could be realised in the future.