Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2013
179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the alternative method of identification, if any, acceptable in respect of registration for public service card for persons holding neither driver's licence nor passport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23603/13]
View answerThe Department has developed, in conjunction with a number of other Government Departments, a rules based standard for establishing and authenticating an individual’s identity for the purposes of access to public services. This programme of work, which is known as the Standard Authentication Framework Environment or SAFE for short, also provides for the introduction of a Public Services Card (PSC) to enable individuals to gain access to public services more efficiently and with a minimum of duplication of effort, while at the same time preserving their privacy to the maximum extent possible.
A PSC is currently issued following a registration process which involves the capture of an individual’s photograph and signature and the verification of identity data already held by the Department. As part of the registration process, applicants are requested to provide documentation supporting the authentication of their identity. This is most easily achieved through the presentation of secure photographic ID (such as a passport, National Identity card or driver’s licence).
The process does take into account that some people will not have such documents. In the main, these will be UK or Irish nationals as, to be present in the jurisdiction, others will require a valid passport or National ID card. The process for applicants without photo ID involves a more in-depth interview focussing on the verification of information supplied by the individual or otherwise available to the Department based on their personal circumstances.
