Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 January 2014
370. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the issue of the public services card to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3749/14]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection, in conjunction with a number of other Government Departments, has developed 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, provides for a number of levels of identity authentication. An individual’s SAFE level is determined by the degree of assurance that can be provided as to his or her identity.
SAFE 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. A PSC is currently issued following a registration process which involves the capture of an individual’s photograph and signature, the verification of identity and current address as well as the capture of additional data such as answers to security questions to be used in ensuring the future integrity of customers' data.
In order for an individual to be issued with a PSC they must satisfy a certain SAFE standard of identity assurance. In this particular case, the person concerned has not verified his identity to the required standard. I understand that the Deputy’s office has been advised of the appropriate action to be taken by the individual in order for him to so do.
