Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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46. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the number of PPS numbers issued in each year from 2003 to 2014; the number cancelled in each year; the total number of active PPS numbers currently in issuance; her views on the robustness of the system for issuing PPS numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37429/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The PPS Number is the individual’s unique reference number for all dealings with Government Departments and public bodies. This covers its use for DSP purposes as well as use by other agencies (in accordance with legislation - Section 262 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 provides the basis for the allocation, use and sharing of the PPS Number).

Before a PPS Number can be allocated, the person making the application must provide evidence of identity, and demonstrate the reason why s/he requires the allocation of a PPS Number. PPS Numbers are issued by the Department following checks on an individual’s identity. The checks vary depending on the type of individual concerned – the Department accepts notification via the General Register Office of births but insists on a face to face interview before issuing a PPS number to a resident of working age. In addition, acceptable evidence of address must be provided. The process of allocating a PPS Number has been expanded to include the capture of a photograph and signature. This is being rolled out to PPS Number allocation centres and will be in place in all PPS Number allocation centres by the end of this year. Photographs captured are compared with other photographs previously captured in order to detect any possible duplicates.

PPS Numbers may be used by persons in their dealings with public bodies that are specified in legislation. I would also like to make the point that possession of a PPS Number, in itself, does not convey any entitlement. While it can make identifying a person easier for both the individual and the agency, checks on identity and meeting the qualifying conditions for any service must be carried out.

It is not possible for me to describe all uses that other agencies have for the PPS Number, but it is worth remarking that my Department uses the number to identify an individual’s PRSI contributions while they are working in the State. This means that, even after they have left the State, the number allocated to them remains valid. The PRSI contribution information will be relevant to calculating pension entitlements in other jurisdictions as well as in this one. While there is no current activity on such PPS Numbers, activity is expected in the future as people reach retirement age. Consequently it is not possible to determine the number of “Active PPS Numbers”.

PPS Numbers, once allocated, are not cancelled. Should a PPS Number be compromised, that number is put beyond use, but is retained on the Department’s records.

Details of the PPS Numbers allocated over the years have already been published and are available on the Department’s Website at: http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Personal-Public-Service-Number-Statistics-on-Numbers-Issued.aspx