Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the roll out of identity cards for social welfare recipients will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43565/10]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the roll out of the identify card for social welfare recipients will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43942/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 228 together.

The Department has developed, in conjunction with a number of other Government Departments, the specifications for a Public Services 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.

Legislative provisions in relation to the introduction of the Public Services Card have been included in Section 263 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended by Section 32 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007). The recently published Social Welfare Bill provides for a number of amendments to this legislation including the addition of place of birth and nationality to the data set to be encoded on the chip.

Over the past few years significant progress had been made on the implementation of the project including the selection of a preferred bidder to provide a managed service for card production and related bureau services. Technical specifications were finalised and the necessary organisational change was designed.

However, in view of the uncertain economic climate, the project was suspended until formal sanction to proceed was received from the Department of Finance at the end of last year. A contract was agreed with the managed service provider from early January.

The remaining elements of the project commenced at that time. Significant work has been undertaken since then including decisions regarding the final design of the card and the development of a secure site for the personalisation of the cards. It is also necessary to develop a technical infrastructure within the Department to support the management and administration of the cards. Some of this development is being undertaken internally while procurement for the remainder is underway.

At the moment it is expected that the card production capability will be ready in December. Following implementation of the necessary registration infrastructure, including staff training, card issue for customers of the Department will commence early in 2011.

The overall timeframe for completion of initial deployment of a Public Services Card is dependent on the rate at which it will be possible to securely register all of those to whom it will be issued. Initial registration will be carried out in the Department. Other options that may exist for external registration are being explored.

The Public Services Card will replace cards currently in use, such as the Social Services Card and the Free Travel card, with highly secure cards.

Features such as photographs and signatures and electronic card authentication are expected to minimise the rate of fraud and error arising from incorrectly identified and authenticated individuals.

A further benefit of the Public Services Card will be the efficiencies that can be achieved by all agencies and customers using the card. The time spent on establishing identity and authentication will be reduced on both sides, leading to significant potential savings nationally.