Identity card to help combat welfare fraud

THE Government revealed a new identity card designed to help combat social welfare fraud.

The card, similar in size to a bank card, contains biometric data pertaining to its owner, including a photograph, signature and coded information.

Samples of the card were shown to members of the Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education yesterday.

By the end of this year, 4,000 people of working age will have been issued with their cards, with a pilot scheme operating in Tullamore, Sligo and King’s Inn in central Dublin.

Anne Vaughan, assistant secretary at the Department of Social Protection, said the card will be rolled out as securely and as speedily as possible, but that it will take a number of years to complete that process.

A number of initiatives have been launched in recent months as the department seeks to limit waste ahead of the budget, including operations targeting the so-called ‘black economy’. On-the-ground spot checks at workplaces are also likely.

According to the department, while photographs of members of the public have been taken, no cards have been issued. It is expected the first cards will be given out from next week.

In addition to the owner’s PPS number and card number, the new card will also hold a magnetic stripe for compatibility with existing Social Services cards.

According to a departmental spokesperson: “The Public Service Card (PSC) will be available to be used by any public service body including, as a first issuer, the Department of Social Protection.

“There are a number of other public service bodies that have a strong interest in using the card. These bodies, whose plans are at various stages of development, are in discussions with the department.”

It is planned that the PSC will replace cards such as the Social Services Card and the Free Travel Card, and that the magnetic stripe on the reverse of the card will facilitate payment processing through post offices.

On the issue of welfare fraud, Ms Vaughan said the provisional target for control savings for 2012 is in the region of €625 million, and that the target for welfare reviews in 2011 is 780,000.