Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to issue photo identification cards; when this will be rolled out; if it will be rolled out to all social welfare claimants at the same time; the cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47349/09]

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 the full implementation of the Project will not be achieved until the second half of next year. It is anticipated that the managed service provider will be in a position to provide at that time. The planned complete roll out is expected to take up to four years. The Department plans to issue the cards to selected groups of its customers on a phased basis. Following a public procurement exercise, a preferred bidder for the production and personalisation of the card was identified. Negotiations with the preferred bidder are nearing completion and it is expected that a contract will be signed shortly. Last week's Budget provided €7million to allow the roll out of cards to commence in 2010.