In July last year, the Government approved my proposal for an initiative to integrate public services. This initiative – known as REACH – will use the personal public services number and an associated public services card to integrate services to citizens across the whole public service. One of the principal objectives of REACH is to increase the use of the personal public service number – or PPS number – by citizens and public service agencies.
Another important objective is the development of a public services card for use by citizens in accessing public services. Taken together, the personal number and the card will enable the integration of services across agencies and will result in a much better level of service for citizens.
My Department and the Revenue Commissioners have used the RSI number, now called the personal public services number, for many years as a unique personal identifier to help in the administration of tax and social welfare schemes.
Legislative provisions to permit its use across the public service have been introduced under the Social Welfare Acts of 1998 and 2000.
Customers of my Department have used the social services card for many years to draw down payments at post offices and to help in conducting transactions relating to income support schemes.
The public service card will be developed from this base as a multi-purpose card with a wide variety of uses.
The REACH initiative will engage in a wide ranging consultation to establish citizens' requirements for such a card and to decide on its form and the range of its uses. I cannot predict what the outcome of this process will be, but I am particularly concerned that the card will support electronic access to information systems and services, and that it will give the citizen maximum control and security over his or her personal data.