Vol. 501 No. 5
32 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of persons issued with public service cards as provided for in the Social Welfare Act, 1998; the procedures, if any, in place to monitor the operation of the cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6406/99]
The Social Welfare Act, 1998, provides, among other things, for the implementation of a number of key recommendations of the interdepartmental report on the integrated social services system published in August 1996. These include the standardisation of the revenue and social insurance, RSI, number as a personal public service number, PPSN, the widening of the use of the social services card as a public services card and the sharing of data between public service agencies for the purpose of determining entitlement to and control of certain benefits.
At present, social services cards issued by my Department contain information on the person's name, personal public service number, date of birth, gender and numbers relating to the card sequence. The card provides the cardholder with a robust record of the number and should help the cardholder provide his or her PPSN when required.
My Department has not as yet issued public service cards as provided for under the 1998 Act encompassing functions other than social security. A process of consultation has been initiated by my Department with other Departments and public bodies in order to determine the likely demand for a public service card. The public service card will be issued when the consultation process and planning process with these public bodies is complete. Likewise, detailed plans for the procedures and monitoring of the card are being developed in parallel with this consultation process.
