Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when she plans to issue photo identification cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40623/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has developed, in conjunction with a number of other Government Departments, the specifications for a Public Service Card (PSC) under the Standard Authentication Framework Environment, or (SAFE), programme. The specification provides for identification features, including a photograph. 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 introduction of the PSC would provide for a card with key security features which would help control access to government services. Features such as photographs and signatures and electronic card authentication would minimise the rate of fraud and error arising from incorrectly identified and authenticated individuals. The PSC would replace cards currently in use, such as the Social Services Card and the Free Travel card with highly secure cards. Other Departments and agencies would also be in a position to use the card.

A further benefit of the PSC would arise from the efficiencies which would be achieved by all agencies using the card. The time spent on establishing identity and authentication would be reduced leading to significant potential savings across the whole public sector.

The project has three streams of work;

Development of new technical systems to support the issue of the Public Service Card;

Design of the necessary organisational change; and

The procurement of a managed service provider for the production, supply and management of the card as well as the provision of associated bureau services.

Development of the new technical systems to support the card requires a procurement exercise and this process has commenced. The organisational change stream is complete and a preferred bidder for the managed service provider has been selected.

Sanction to proceed with the project has recently been received from the Department of Finance and the project will now advance to the next stage. The Department plans to issue the cards to selected groups of its customers, commencing with those eligible for free travel in the latter half of 2010.