Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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240. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if provision has been made to provide refugees with personal public service numbers to enable them to attend English for speakers of other languages classes in order to improve their English language skills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31561/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The PPS No is the individual’s unique reference number for all dealings with Government Departments and public bodies. Bodies that are entitled to ask for and use PPS Numbers are specified in legislation.

A PPS Number is automatically issued in the case of children born in Ireland. In other cases application must be made in person at one of the Department's PPS Number Registration Centres around the country.

Any person requesting the allocation of a PPS Number must provide evidence that s/he requires a PPS Number in order to carry out a transaction with a specified body, satisfactory evidence of identity, and evidence of address.

The situation is no different with refugees who are allocated PPS Numbers, as required, so that they may obtain the public services that they are entitled to.