Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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1358. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is necessary to have a public services card to apply for a provisional or full driver licence; the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35438/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​The application process for a driving licence does not currently require the production of a Public Services Card (PSC).  It is however intended to make this a requirement at some point in 2018.

The PSC is governed by the terms of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005.  That Act lists a number of what are called 'specified bodies' which may request production of a PSC.  The Road Safety Authority is a specified body under the 2005 Act.

The reason for this is to streamline processes and benefit citizens.  Many public services exist which require proof of identity.  This creates burdensome duplication for the individual citizen, who is required to bring a variety of documentation to prove their identity as part of an application for numerous public services.  The intention for the PSC from the start was that it would function as a 'one-stop shop' for identity verification, after which it could be used to prove identity in transactions with a wide range of public agencies.

It is Government policy to require robust proof of identity to a level referred to as SAFE 2.  The identity verification process for the PSC meets the SAFE 2 requirements.  Introducing the requirement to produce a PSC as part of the driver licence application process will save time and be more efficient for citizens, as it will be necessary to prove their identity to SAFE 2 level only once - for the PSC.  The alternative would be to extend and complicate the existing identity verification process for the driver licence application to meet SAFE 2 criteria.