Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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653. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the policy regarding the issuing of a public services card for adopted persons; when the review of the public services card application process for adopted applicants will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44278/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The SAFE (Standard Authentication Framework Environment) registration process is the method used by my department to verify a person’s identity. Following this process, a person will receive their Public Services Card (PSC). Their PSC can then be used to get a verified MyGovID account, which allows the person to access a range of online public services.

To verify their identity, the person should make a SAFE registration appointment at their local PSC/Intreo Centre. When attending this appointment, the person should bring along their current photographic identity documents such as passport, or driver licence (Irish or UK licence, or Irish learner driver permit), as well as proof of their address. They should also bring their mobile phone if they have one, so that their phone number can also be verified.

For all persons born in Ireland, including adopted persons, SAFE officers check the birth record as held by the General Register Office (GRO) as part of recording the person’s identity details. In the event that, following checks with GRO, no record can be found, the person will be asked by my department to provide their birth certificate to allow their birth details to be verified. My department is currently updating information on its www.gov.ie website to advise that birth certificates are only requested from a person where necessary (if no details found on GRO) in order to complete their identity verification.

In early July, my department introduced a new online SAFE registration service for current Irish passport holders. This online service augments the existing in-person SAFE registration process. Once the online SAFE registration application has been approved by an officer, the person receives their PSC and their verified MyGovID account. Over 40,000 people have availed of the convenient new service since its introduction.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.