Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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16. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to put special provisions in place to facilitate first-time passport applicants, given the requirement for them to submit a public services card with their application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6468/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Public Services Card (PSC) is designed to replace other cards within the public sector such as the social services card and free travel pass of this Department, and to make it easy for providers of public services to verify the identity of customer. The Passport Office has introduced a requirement for first-time adult applicants to be registered for a PSC in advance of applying for a passport.

A PSC is issued following a registration process which involves the capture of an individual’s photograph and signature and the verification of identity data, and is usually received by the individual within 5 working days. Details of the registration process and information on the documents which a person should bring are available on the Department’s website at

At present, 98 of the Department’s locations nationwide are processing registrations for the PSC. There are three PSC centres in County Clare at Ennis, Kilrush and Ennistymon. Appointments for registration for a PSC may be made online at , or by contacting the office directly (contact details are available on the Department’s website at ).