Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated total cost to roll-out a national public services card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45911/10]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the public service card is being rolled out on a phased basis; the category of claimant that will receive the card first; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45912/10]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Social Protection with regard to the public service card if he will provide details on the managed service provide; the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45913/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 to 235, inclusive, 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.

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 Biometric Card Services (BCS) as the managed service provider from early January. BCS is an Irish registered company based in Bray, Co. Wicklow. The contract is for a complete managed service for the production, maintenance and distribution of the PSC. In summary this entails:

Production of the card

Personalisation of the card

Delivery of the card

Provision of help-desk functionality

All to be undertaken under strict and secure conditions.

For the purposes of this contract, BCS is made up of a consortium of three companies: Morpho, De La Rue Smurfit and Conduit.

Formerly known as Sdu Identification, Morpho is based in Haarlem in the Netherlands. It is a world leader in high-end ID solutions such as e-passports, national ID cards and smartcards. They produce passports for several countries (including the polycarbonate insert for Ireland). Their e-passport has been described by Interpol as the 'most secure passport in the world'. They also produce ID cards (including national ID cards), drivers' licences, banking cards etc. They have all relevant ISO accreditation.

De La Rue Smurfit is Ireland's leading s De La Rue Smurfit is Ireland's leading security print provider. They have two sites on the island of Ireland (Lisburn and Bray) both of which are ISO accredited. They produce e-passports, excise stamps and cheques and drafts for Irish, UK and African financial institutions. They produced Personalised Payable Order books for the Department for over 20 years and currently supply the PVC blanks for the Social Services Cards.

Conduit is one of Europe's leading providers of outsourced contact centre solutions. Employing over 1,800 people in the UK, Ireland, Switzerland and Austria,

Since the project was recommenced, significant work has been undertaken including decisions regarding the final design of the card and the development of a secure site in Bray 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. Deputies w ill appreciate that, in the context of the procurement exercise currently underway, it would be unwise of me to publicly speculate on the total costs for the development of the technical infrastructure.

BCS's costs are for some €24m for a population of 3m with issuance taking about three to five years (i.e. about €8 per card including postage at the volumes stated). It is intended to mitigate the costs of the project through reliance on existing resources and utilisation of relevant data already held by the State e.g. photographs and signatures held by the Department in relation to the All-Ireland Free Travel Scheme as well as by the Passport Office, etc.

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. Other Departments and agencies will also be in a position to use the card and the infrastructure that will support it.

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.