Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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443. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the measures put in place and progress to date in dealing with the high volume of applicants for the public services card; the number of hits on the new work ready reckoner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4316/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Public Services Card (PSC) has been introduced to enable individuals gain access to public services more efficiently and with a minimum of duplication of effort, while at the same time preserving their privacy to the maximum extent possible. The PSC is designed to replace other cards within the public sector such as the free travel pass and the social services card of this Department and to make it easy for providers of public services to verify the identity of customers. Registration for the PSC is currently by invitation only. Over 525,000 PSCs have been produced to date.

The Benefit of Work Ready Reckoner is a user friendly tool for those in receipt of a Jobseeker's Payment. It gives an indication of the difference between a person’s potential in-work and their current out-of-work payments based on information provided by the person. The tool is designed for those who are currently not in any type of employment, are in receipt of a Jobseeker's Payment and are considering taking up full-time sustainable employment. It was launched on December 12th last year. By and to the end of the first week in January this year it had received over 4,000 unique page views.