Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the progress made on introducing the use of public service cards as the means for accessing State services. [3461/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I understand that the number of Public Services Cards issued by Department of Social Protection has very recently exceeded 100,000.

As part of the Public Service Reform Plan a number of actions around the use of the Public Services Card for accessing services were identified.

Firstly, to agree on an investment programme and the allocation of required resources. This has been agreed between my Department and the Department of Social Protection.

Secondly, to develop an awareness programme for both Public Service bodies and for residents on the availability of the card and its potential. This has two aspects – Department of Social Protection support for public bodies and the latters' interaction with their own clients. The Department of Social Protection are in communication with public bodies and the other aspect is contingent on each roll-out programme.

Thirdly, to seek Government approval to mandate all public bodies to use the PSC as the means of accessing their high-value services or explain to the Department why this is not possible. It has been decided that, whereas the rollout of the PSC is underway, mandating its use across all public bodies will only become possible when a significant volume of cards is issued and other public bodies have analysed the business cases for use.

Finally, to examine the best way of using the PSC and its underlying registration facilities and data services as the means of accessing public services over electronic channels. A pilot is underway and should be completed during the second quarter of 2013.