Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021
528. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are provisions in place to fast-track the issuing of PPS numbers in respect of healthcare workers in the context that health and care settings need to recruit and pay new staff with a degree of urgency in order to maintain safety and care standards (details supplied). [4377/21]
View answerI can confirm that officials from my Department have been in contact with the Deputy's office to get further details regarding the Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) applications referred to by the Deputy. As soon as their details are received, these applications will be processed without delay.
My Department is working closely with the Strategic Workforce Planning Unit in the Department of Health and with the Health Service Executive in order to identify and expedite PPSN applications received from those taking up employment in the health sector.
Officials from my Department will continue to work closely with the Department and the HSE to ensure that there are no undue delays with the issuance of PPSNs to workers taking up employment in the health sector.
In December 2020, the Department introduced an online application service for those who need to apply for a PPSN. Anyone who has come to Ireland to work and who needs a PPSN should apply through this service which is available at www.MyWelfare.ie.
More information is available on the Department's website www.gov.ie/dsp.
In order to use this service, an individual needs to have a basic MyGovID account. If a person does not have a MyGovID account they can get one at www.MyGovID.ie.
Application volumes are being monitored carefully to ensure they are being processed as quickly as possible.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
