Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 299: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when she will roll out the integrated public service card; the cost of the project in 2010; the number of cards that will be issued in 2010; the timetable for the complete roll-out; the target groups which will receive such cards in 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46796/09]

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 SAFE (Standard Authentication Framework Environment) programme. The specification provides for identification features, including a photograph. The PSC is to act as a key for access to public services in general, identifying and helping to authenticate individuals. Department of Finance sanction to proceed with the PSC project was received on 23 October 2009. The remobilisation plan for the project began immediately. It will be necessary to procure a new registration and card management functionality, to support issuing the new PSC. Separate sanction from the Department of Finance will be required before the request for tender can issue.

The necessary development work and organisation change will mean that implementation of the Project will not be achieved until the second half of next year. It is anticipated that the managed service provider will also be in a position to provide a card personalisation and bureau facility at that time. It is not possible at this stage to predict the number of cards that will issue next year. Last week's Budget provided €7 million to allow the roll out of cards to commence in 2010.