Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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418. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 939 of 20 March 2018, the purpose of the latest tender by her Department for facial recognition software; and her plans to expand the use of public service cards beyond SAFE level 2. [18719/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The use of facial matching technology has been employed by the Department for a number of years. What is proposed, in the context of this competitive tender process, is a continuation and upgrade of this existing technology. This technology helps prevent and detect cases of suspected social welfare and identity fraud.

The Department uses facial image matching software to strengthen the SAFEregistration process. The normal digital photograph in JPEG format is captured during the SAFEregistration process. It is inputted into and stored in this facial image matching software and is then modelled and searched against the Department’s photo database to ensure that the person in the photograph has not already been registered using a different Personal Public Service Number or a different identity dataset. The software compares photographs by converting the image into an arithmetic template based on the individual’s facial characteristics and checking it against the other image templates already held in that software’s database from other SAFEregistrations. It is a similar approach to that taken by the Passport Office in its systems when processing passport applications/renewals.

The Public Services Card does not store biometrics. Nor is the biometric or arithmetic template of the photo stored in the PSI dataset or shared with other public bodies.

The current matching system is over 5 years old and upgrading the system will result in achieving significantly improved matching accuracy which, in turn, will lead to increased efficiencies and effectiveness for my Department. The process will involve the application of the upgraded algorithm to all of the facial templates currently on the facial matching server in order to improve matching accuracy.

In conclusion, my Department currently has no plans to extend SAFE registration beyond that of SAFE level 2.

I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.