Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 together.

The SAFE registration process, which involves the authentication of a person's identity in a face-to-face interview, is the normal method of processing an application for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN). 

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

My Department did not, however, suspend PPSN allocations. To help ensure that those who required a PPSN could get one, my Department introduced an email and postal service through which applications could be made.

My Department has received, and continues to receive, significant volumes of email and post in relation to PPSN applications from people living in and outside the State. Data on the processing times of these applications are not currently available.

It is inevitably the case that a temporary process such as this will not be as efficient as the face-to-face process it has temporarily replaced, neither for applicants nor for the staff dealing with those applications.

Additional resources have been reassigned to deal with email and postal PPSN applications. I expect this will result in improved processing times and a reduction in the number of applications on hand. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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250. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a PPS number will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37629/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the individual referred to by the Deputy. Letters issued to the individual and to the solicitor concerned on 17th November 2020 with details of the PPSN.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.