Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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924. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are currently delays for appointments to get a Public Services Card; the current timeframe to apply and receive a Public Services Card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17560/23]

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).  My Department continues to experience a high level of demand for PSCs.  Since the beginning of this year, just over 101,562 SAFE registrations and PSC renewals have been completed nationally.  Over 342,000 SAFE registrations and renewals were processed in  2022.

Currently, it is not possible for someone who does not already have a PSC to acquire one without attending an Intreo/SAFE Centre.  My Department is however developing an online SAFE registration service which will augment the current in-person service.

In order to make maximum use of SAFE registration capacity, a combination of walk-in services and appointment services is available across the network of Intreo/SAFE offices.  Information on the PSC service in each Intreo/SAFE Centres can be found on gov.ie - PSC/SAFE Registration Centres (www.gov.ie).  In the majority of offices a person will be SAFE registered within 7 days of requesting a PSC, and will receive the PSC within 7 to 10 days of their SAFE Registration.

My Department has an online service which allows customers with verified MyGovID accounts to renew their PSCs online at www.MyWelfare.ie.  A person with an expired PSC can have their card extended for three years by contacting my Department.

Where a PSC is lost, stolen or damaged, a person should immediately contact the PSC Helpdesk where officials will arrange for a new card to issue.

An appointment can be made for any customer who has any difficulty accessing a walk-in service.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.