Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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703. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the legal framework under which is it deemed mandatory for a person to respond to invitations being sent by her Department to discuss the issuing of new public services cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39467/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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There is no legal framework under which is it deemed mandatory for a person to respond to invitations being sent by the Department to discuss the issuing of Public Services Cards. Where the Department may issue such an invitation, it is entirely a matter for the invitee to accept that invitation or otherwise.

Separately, the Department makes it clear to customers in receipt of social welfare payments or Free Travel entitlements that they do need to complete a SAFE 2 registration to access, or continue to access, payments and entitlements. In the main, customers are invited to a scheduled registration appointment, completion of which results in the issue of a PSC by post. The Department also issues reminder letters to customers, as required. Customers may also book a different time/date to suit them, either online via www.mywelfare.ie, by contacting the Department’s offices, or by walking in to ask for the next available appointment.

While the default SAFE 2 registration method is ‘face-to-face’ (as set out at Sections 263B, 241 and 247C (3) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended), the Department can and does make other arrangements with certain customers, where appropriate, to elevate their identity verification to the SAFE 2 standard. Combining high quality public service identity data with risk analysis and customer consent can, in some circumstances, allow the Department to complete the process by post rather than face-to-face. These alternative methods are further strengthened in that all photographs are subjected to facial image matching against previously held photographs. Additionally, the Department operates a mobile registration solution to cater for those persons incapable (for whatever reason) of attending a Department office. Although this approach works best in congregated environments, individual registrations (for example at a person’s residence) can be undertaken in exceptional circumstances. In this context, I want to make it clear that customers who face bona fide challenges to in-person attendance will not be disadvantaged, in terms of access to payments and/or availing of Free Travel entitlements.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.