Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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173. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the fact that in order for a person to withdraw their savings and close their State savings account, they must provide a PPS number even if the account was created before the anti money laundering provisions in the Criminal Justice Acts 2010 and 2013 were enacted and even if the reason the customer is closing the account is in protest at having to provide a PPS number in order to continue using the account. [2979/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The National Treasury Management Agency (" the NTMA") has informed me that it is a 'specified body' for the purposes of sections 262 to 270 and schedule 5 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended. This provides the power to the NTMA, acting on behalf of the Minister for Finance, to request holders of State Savings products to provide their PPS Number for the purposes of verifying the identity of such holders.

The NTMA, acting on behalf of the Minister for Finance, and its agents, An Post and the Prize Bond Company, use the PPS Number for the sole purpose of the administration of State Savings products and accounts. Personal data provided by holders (including PPS Number) is processed for the purpose of the administration of State Savings products and accounts, including anti-money laundering requirements under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Acts 2010 and 2013. 

Under such legislation designated bodies such as An Post, are required by law to verify customers’ identities, irrespective of when the account was opened. The same legislation also requires designated bodies to ensure that customer identity verification information is kept up to date.  Therefore, when a person wants to withdraw their savings and close their State Savings account, regardless of when the account was opened, they may be asked to verify their identity in accordance with the Criminal Justice Acts 2010 and 2013.