Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2026
72. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on any planned changes to the SAFE registration process for acquiring a Public Services Card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31240/26]
View answerThere are no planned changes to the SAFE registration process.
SAFE registration is the process used by my department to authenticate a person's identity. It involves attendance at an in-person appointment at a local Intreo or public services card centre, or using the online SAFE registration service. The online service is available to valid Irish passports holders, aged sixteen or over, with an address on the island of Ireland.
To become SAFE registered, the person must provide evidence of their identity and address, and their photo and signature are captured.
On verification of a person’s identity, the person is issued with a Public Services Card which can be used as proof of their identity when accessing public services, collecting social protection payments or accessing Free Travel entitlement. The person can also set up a verified MyGovID account.
MyGovID is the secure online identity authentication service provided by my Department to enable a person to access online public services. Having a verified MyGovID account provides assurance to the public body concerned as to the identity of the person they are transacting with online.
To date over 4.9 million people have verified their identities through the SAFE registration process. There are over 3.4 million verified MyGovID accounts created to date.
Currently, it is an offence for any person or organisation other than those specified in social welfare law to request or accept a public services card (PSC) as proof of identity. I have recently brought forward proposed legislation under the Scheme of the Social Welfare and Other Matters Bill 2026, which will allow a PSC holder to use their card for identity purposes, at his or her own discretion, in exactly the same way as they can use a driving licence or passport.
I believe this measure will be of particular help to people who do not hold a valid passport or driving licence. I am very mindful of the cost a person incurs when they get, or renew, a passport or drivers licence. There is no fee to get, or renew, a PSC. My department is repeatedly asked why it is not possible for a person to use their PSC to verify their identity, for example for opening an account in a financial institution or utility company, when other state provided identity documents are accepted.
The PSC does not currently display a cardholder’s date of birth. The proposed legislative changes would also provide for a card-holder to opt to have their date of birth inscribed on their PSC, and to subsequently opt to have their date of birth removed, at any time, and a new PSC issued to them.
The proposed legislation will not result in any changes the existing SAFE registration process.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
