Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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353. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current waiting time for applications for a PPS number in each county; the number of applications outstanding in each county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7397/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a person who required a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) attended an office of my Department for SAFE registration.

The SAFE registration process involves the authentication of a person's identity in a face-to-face interview, and the subsequent issuing of a Public Services Card (PSC).

Face-to-face services were disrupted during 2020 due to the pandemic, and my Department introduced an online application service for PPSN applications. This service was introduced to ensure that those who need a PPSN could have their application dealt with, even in the event of office closures as a result of COVID-19 public health measures.

In May 2021, SAFE registrations resumed, with reduced capacity, across my Department's network of offices for PSC appointments and certain offices have resumed SAFE registration for PPSN applicants as well as PSC appointments. SAFE registrations for all PPSN applicants will resume in all offices following the recent lifting of public health restrictions.

The timeline for processing PPSN applications is currently less than one week for most counties.

The average processing time is in the order of 2 to 3 weeks in counties Cork, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath and Wicklow and is 5 weeks across the counties of Dublin, Limerick and Kildare. However, my Department can confirm that additional resources have been assigned to deal with PPSN applications, and that this increased capacity will reduce the number of applications currently pending and improve the waiting time to receive a PPSN.

The number of applications currently pending in respect of each county is set out in the table below. It is important to note that this figure includes 2,510 cases where the Department is awaiting further information documentation or evidence from the applicant, which must be submitted before their application can be processed and finalised.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.