Non-EU/EEA citizens who apply for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) in Ireland are required to provide evidence of identity to my Department in the form of a passport, or in the alternative, an International Protection Office (IPO) Card issued by the International Protection Office, which is an agency of the Department of Justice. A completed form IPF1 must also accompany an application for a PPSN in such cases.
Where, subsequent to the allocation of a PPSN, a person wishes to make a change to the information originally provided to the International Protection Office, the person is required to complete and submit a revised IPF1 form and IPO Card from the Department of Justice. Notifications of revised identity details submitted by persons to the International Protection Office are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice.
Following notification by the Department of Justice of new identity details submitted by a person who holds a PPSN, it may be appropriate for my Department to assign a new PPSN to the person concerned and close off the PPSN linked to their former identity. In the event a new PPSN is assigned, my Department examines the implications of the PPSN assignment, including examination of continued entitlement to social welfare benefits that may be in payment, or rectification of social insurance records relating to previous periods of work. Where necessary, appropriate action will also be undertaken in relation to any overpayments of social welfare benefits which has arisen.
Officials at my Department notify their counterparts at the Department of Justice in cases where a passport which results in an identity change is presented at my Department’s office in the first instance.
Where minor changes to identity details are notified by the Department of Justice, my Department updates the records of the person concerned to reflect the change.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
