221. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will consider introducing later opening hours for PSC centres that open outside of Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, or that take appointments to ensure people who work 9-5 jobs are able to secure an appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26044/24]

The SAFE (Standard Authentication Framework Environment) Registration process, which my Department uses to authenticate a person's identity, is currently a face- to-face process which results in the issuing of a Public Services Card (PSC).

In order to ensure maximum use of SAFE registration capacity, a combination of walk-in services and appointment services is available across the network of Intreo/SAFE offices, which remain open during lunch time hours. Information on the PSC service in each Intreo/SAFE Centres can be found on gov.ie - PSC/SAFE Registration Centres (www.gov.ie).

My Department has an online service which allows customers with verified MyGovID accounts to renew their public service cards online at www.MyWelfare.ie. My Department is also at an advanced stage of introducing an online SAFE Registration service, to allow an individual to SAFE register at a time that best suits them using their smart phone. The new service will provide a user-friendly, secure, online alternative to complement the existing in-person SAFE Registration service. The service will be available to persons aged sixteen and over, who hold an Irish passport and who have an address on the island of Ireland.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.