Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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201. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when full appointments will be available for those applying for the public services card; the reason for the continued delay in making appointments available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23001/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The SAFE registration process, which my Department uses to authenticate a person's identity, is a face- to-face process which results in the issuing of a Public Services Card (PSC).

At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, my Department temporarily postponed the SAFE registration process. This decision was taken to comply with HSE and WHO guidelines in respect of social distancing.

I am happy to confirm that the SAFE registration service has now resumed in most Intreo Centres and Branch Offices. This is being done in line with all relevant guidelines to ensure the health and safety of the Department's customers and staff and I expect that the service will be fully resumed nationwide over the coming weeks.

To help manage social distancing in its offices, my Department has suspended the online appointments system for SAFE registration appointments. Any person wishing to book an appointment should contact their local Intreo Centre and they will be assigned one.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.