82. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the investment his Department has made in the past three years in digital services for customer supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46249/26]

Since its establishment in 2015, the Digital Services Division of the Department of Social Protection (DSP) has led the transformation of public service delivery focusing on creating streamlined, accessible and efficient public services for citizens.

My Department has developed MyWelfare, its customer facing self-service portal which enables individuals access and manage their social welfare entitlements and Welfare Partners is our digital platform for business partners of the Department.

My Department is continuing to invest in the digitalisation of its schemes and services as it works towards the target of having 90% of applicable services available online by 2030.

This investment has enabled the launch of a number of key online services over the period from July 2023 to June 2026. These include online applications for Back to Education Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit, the State Pension (both Contributory and Non-Contributory), Domiciliary Care Allowance, and the facility to repay an overpayment.

The Jobseeker’s Benefit online journey was enhanced to support applications for Jobseeker’s Pay Related Benefit, Educational Season Workers, optional Jobseeker’s Allowance, and those whose Jobseeker’s Benefit is due to exhaust.

Other key services include the introduction of an online Birth Registration Service, the ordering of a birth certificate and an online Social Welfare Appeals service.

A range of improvements were made to existing digital services as part of the Department’s ongoing commitment to make interactions with its platforms as seamless as possible. Customers can now upload supporting documents to their existing claim, and a claim review service has been introduced for the Illness Benefit scheme. Document content moderation has been implemented on MyWelfare and Welfare Partners to prevent harmful content being submitted. Customers can also provide an alternative email address for MyWelfare communications.

Enhancements were introduced to PPSN applications to include child and non-resident applications and enable appointment booking. Additionally, the Public Service Card renewal application was updated to improve customer experience and ensure compliance with photograph requirements. Further improvements to improve the Public Service renewal service delivery are planned for Q4 2026.

Work is currently progressing on the delivery of an online application service for Disability Allowance, scheduled for Q3 2026, and for the Bereaved Partner’s Pension scheduled for Q4 2026.

Initial exploration work is also currently underway to support the digitalisation of both the One Parent Family and Jobseekers Transition Payment applications. In addition, the extension of online Civil Registration Services is being progressed to design and build an online Death Registration service.

An online service was introduced on Welfare Partners platform to enable applications of A1 certificates for proof of PRSI payments in Ireland whilst temporarily working in another EU/EEA country or in Switzerland.

The digitalisation of the Department’s services is central to providing the public with greater choice in how they engage with services, while also supporting improved efficiency in service delivery. As outlined above, significant progress has been made in the last three years in the provision of digital services for customers supports.

My Department will continue to expand its online service offering, increasing the variety of services available digitally and further extending the choices open to the public.

I trust that this clarifies the matter.