491. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection if the database of personal information associated with those who hold a public services card, and accompanying biometric data, has been used as part of any application of artificial intelligence, either as training data or as a subject for analysis; and the safeguards he has put in place for the application of artificial intelligence on data held by his…
Topics / Public Services Card
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsPublic Services Card
18 questions from 9 TDs, between 5 February 2025 and 23 June 2026.
18
questions
17 written, 1 oral
9
TDs have asked
6
parties and groups
Independents counted together
1
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 2 |
| March 2025 | 0 |
| April 2025 | 1 |
| May 2025 | 2 |
| June 2025 | 1 |
| July 2025 | 1 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 0 |
| October 2025 | 0 |
| November 2025 | 3 |
| December 2025 | 0 |
| January 2026 | 1 |
| February 2026 | 1 |
| March 2026 | 1 |
| April 2026 | 3 |
| May 2026 | 0 |
| June 2026 | 2 |
| July 2026 | 0 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 0 |
| October 2026 | 0 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
65. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide any analysis of use cases and business cases formulated by his Department regarding expanding the use of the Public Services Card prior to the initiation of the Social Welfare and Other Matters Bill (2026); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46266/26]
1. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on any plans to expand the use of a digital ID; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31202/26]
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]
359. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of public service cards which were issued or renewed to adult applicants in each year from 2017 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31704/26]
641. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if an up-to-date public services card can be issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16990/26]
880. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection the options available to a person (details supplied) in obtaining a public services card needed to process a passport application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12796/26]
26. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans in place in his Department to change the public services card provision, given data protection concerns of various stakeholders. [2753/26]
598. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine the case of a person (details supplied) who has since been advised that they are set to lose the free travel pass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65573/25]
89. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the conclusion of the Data Protection Commission’s investigation into the public services card using facial-matching technology as a means for his Department’s processing of biometric/identity data; the provisions that will be made to bring the scheme into full compliance with GDPR; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61984/25…
91. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of expenditure to date on the creation and operation of the public services card; the amount expended in relation to regulatory and legal challenges regarding the card; if he accepts that the card records biometric data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62280/25]
1827. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of ongoing issues with the PSC online renewal system in accepting photographs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42366/25]
130. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of expenditure to date regarding the creation and operation of the Public Services Card; the amount expended in relation to regulatory and legal challenges regarding the card; if he accepts that the card records biometric data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33202/25]
86. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the requirement for photo ID when applying for a public service card, as many people do not have a passport or driver's licence; if an alternative will be offered; if identity confirmation by a garda or solicitor will be made acceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20865/25]
273. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason it is necessary for persons to present themselves at a welfare office to have a photo taken for a public service card; if there are plans to have this available to do online [SUBSTITUTE]; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20866/25]
1409. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address an issue regarding public service cards (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19010/25]
108. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the renewal of public services cards needs to be done in person and no longer via phone or online; if he will consider facilitating online or over the phone renewals for public service cards, given the challenges this poses for anyone with reduced mobility or for elderly people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8365/25]
672. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the renewal of a public service card needs to be done in person and no longer via phone or online, appreciating the challenge this poses for elderly citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2637/25]