John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

267. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the decision to use personal public service or PPS numbers in the compilation of the electoral register; when he expects the project to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31105/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future – includes a number of commitments in relation to the modernisation of our electoral registration process including the use of PPSNs to verify identity.

The use of the PPSN in the context of the register will contribute to the ability of registration authorities to maintain accurate and complete electoral registers by ensuring that each person's record can be uniquely identified, thereby enabling improved management of individuals' details.

As well as the proposed use of PPSN's, the Government have also committed to other innovative reforms to underpin the modernisation process. These include, the creation of a rolling register, simplification of registration forms, and the roll out of optional online registration. Together, these reforms will simplify and streamline the entire process of registration making it easier for people to register to vote and update their details.

The implementation of these and related proposals is progressing and, in this regard, my Department is currently preparing the General Scheme of a Bill, which I intend to bring to Government shortly.