Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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499. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to change the verification process for the public services card to facilitate applicants in having their photographs authorised and witnessed at their local Garda Síochána station, similar to the authentication process which applies for passport photographs, given that the current registration process which requires applicants to attend in person at a local Intreo centre is very difficult for elderly persons and the infirm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9831/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Public Services Card (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. Registration for a PSC is achieved through a robust process known as “SAFE” where a customer’s identity is verified by the Department of Social Protection to a substantial level of assurance. SAFE Registration is primarily via a face to face process in person at a DSP location. It takes about 15 minutes to complete once all relevant documentation is presented. Some selected lower-risk customers have also been invited to avail of a postal SAFE registration processes which involves either the utilisation, with consent, of information already provided to other Government agencies, for example, a photograph supplied in connection with an application for a recent passport, or, in the case of selected pensioners over 66 who collect their payments at a Post Office, the provision of passport-standard photographs. Over 1.96 million PSCs have issued to date and SAFE registrations are continuing in 100 locations nationwide.

The SAFE registration process is the most robust identity registration process in the State and adheres to strict rules. There are no plans to change the process at present. However, any customer who has challenges in attending in person due to disability, mobility or communications issues should contact the local DSP location to discuss their individual circumstances.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.