Seán Crowe
Question:1171. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current average waiting time for a public services card appointment; and the current average waiting time for a card to be issued. [43959/22]
View answerThursday, 8 September 2022
Questions (1171)
Written answers
The SAFE registration process, which involves the authentication of a person's identity in a face-to-face interview, results in the issuing of a Public Services Card (PSC), which can be used as proof of identity when accessing public services.
Since the beginning of this year, over 224,000 SAFE registration and PSC renewal appointments have been carried out by my Department.
Requests for appointments are dealt with at a local level across the Department's network of offices. In most parts of the country, offices are offering a walk-in service, with no appointment required, while in other areas appointments are available within a number of days.
Some offices in the Dublin area are facing higher demand and, in these offices, the average waiting time for a PSC appointment is between 1 and 4 weeks.
Urgent requests for a PSC appointment are dealt with on a local basis, and any person who requires a PSC should contact their local INTREO Centre where an appointment will be made for them at the earliest opportunity.
Once a person has been SAFE registered, their PSC issues to them within 5 to 10 working days.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.