Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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46. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons waiting for a public services card in order to access their entitlements, including the free travel card; the number of persons who turned 66 years of age who became entitled to the free travel card since March 2020 who cannot access the card as they were not SAFE registered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25034/20]

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.

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 relevant public health guidance in respect of social distancing. At the same time, my Department postponed the requirement that a person be SAFE registered to apply for a jobseeker's payment.

The process whereby non-SAFE registered customers, on award of Free Travel, are invited to SAFE register in order to receive their Free Travel variant Public Services Card, was also interrupted since March 2020.

I am pleased to confirm that the SAFE registration service has now resumed in most Intreo Centres and Branch Offices countrywide. Opening hours are also being specifically extended from this week to cater for PSC clients wishing to register for a PSC/Free Travel card. This is being done in line with all relevant guidelines, to ensure the health and safety of the Department's customers and staff. Any person wishing to book a SAFE registration appointment should contact their local Intreo Centre and one will be assigned.

Since late August, my Department is proactively working its way through the list of those who were awarded Free Travel in the intervening period and are awaiting their Free Travel Public Services Card. These customers are being invited to contact their local Intreo Centre or Branch Office to arrange their SAFE registration appointment. Once their SAFE registration is complete, they will receive their card, by post, seven to ten days later.

Since 1March 2020, 5,641 non-SAFE registered customers who are over 66 years of age were awarded Free Travel. Of those, 1,276 have now completed the registration process since the Safe process was restarted at the end of August. I expect any of the remainder who wish to do so to complete the registration process over the next few weeks.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.