Mark Ward
Question:671. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to put applications for the public services card online; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41894/21]
View answerThursday, 9 September 2021
Questions (671)
Written answers
The SAFE registration process, which my Department uses to authenticate a person's identity, is a face to face process which results in the issuing of a Public Services Card (PSC). Currently, it is not possible for someone who does not already have a PSC to acquire one without attending an in-person appointment.
My Department is exploring the delivery of services to augment the current face-to-face identity proofing processes carried out by staff in Intreo and SAFE Centres nationwide by allowing customers satisfactorily establish their identity online .
My Department has published a request for tenders (RFT) for an online document-centric identity proofing service to meet the Department’s SAFE standard. A decision on the development of this service will be made following an examination of responses to this RFT.
My Department has also introduced a new online PSC renewal service which is available on MyWelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.