Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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629. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of public services cards that have issued in 2017 and to date in 2018; the projected number of cards that will issue from October 2018 to year end 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43318/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My  Department issued over 670,500 Public Services Cards, PSCs, in 2017 and, to the end of September 2018, just under 480,000 PSCs have been issued.

Over 2.92 million people are SAFE registered. The average number of SAFE registrations per month, for the last six months, is just over 37,000.  This has reduced from an average of over 45,000 per month in 2017.  It is expected that the monthly average will continue to reduce as the majority of people are already SAFE registered. 

Replacement cards are issued and arise due to lost cards or a change in entitlement from a basic card to a free travel card.  Also changes in entitlement within the free travel scheme can effect demand, such as a change from a single free travel entitlement to a spouse or companion entitlement.

Based on the current trends, my Department expects to issue approximately 500,000 PSCs in 2019.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.