Public Services Card
Enhancing Services
Bernard Fitzpatrick – DSP
Seminar on Quality Customer Service
Thursday 13th December 2012
Public Services Card
– SAFE
 Design Requirements
 Security Features
 Progress to Date and Next Steps
 Immediate Benefits
 Questions and Answers
 Background
SAFE Principles
Standard Authentication Framework
Environment
 Rules based standards for establishing
and authenticating identity
 Facilitate access to public service across
multiple channels
 Identity token – e.g. the PSC

SAFE Levels
Safe 0 = No assurance of identity – not
currently holder of a PPS number
 Safe 1 = Balance of probabilities – current
holders of a PPS number
 Safe 2 = Substantial assurance – backed
up by photograph and signature
 Safe 3 = Beyond reasonable doubt –
fingerprint captured at registration and
digitally stored on the PSC

SAFE Level 2
Minimum authentication level for PSC and
most public services
 Robust “Face to Face” registration in a
designated SAFE Registration Office
 Reduced Process – Known Customers
 Capture of photo and signature
 Proof of identity and evidence of address

Design Requirements
Standard “credit card” size
 Multiple protection mechanisms
 Immediately recognisable as being for use
in the Public Services of Ireland
 Comply with the best practice on
accessibility/Official Languages Act

Data Inscribed on the Card
(Section 263,SWCA 2005 as amended)
 Name
 PPS
number
 Photograph
 Signature
 Card issue number, and
 Expiry date
Data Encoded on the Card
(Section 263,SWCA 2005 as amended)
Name
 PPS number
 Photograph
 Signature
 Card issue
number
 Expiry date

Date of birth
 Sex
 All former surnames
(if any) of mother
 Place of birth
 All former surnames
(if any)
 Nationality

Multiple Security Features
Polycarbonate Card
 Laser Engraving
 First Line Security Features (3)
 Easily and speedily recognisable
 Second Line Security Features (?)
 Require specialist equipment
 Third Line Security Features (?)

Phase 1 - Complete
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Managed Service Provider
Design of physical PSC and its associated
management systems
Internal system design to support robust
SAFE registration and generate PSC requests
Accelerated roll-out of SAFE Registration
functionality
Volume production commenced July 2012
following pilot
Phase 1 – Remaining Elements
Application of Facial Image Matching
Software
 Enhance the security environment
using Hardware Security Modules

Phase 2
Free Travel variant of PSC
 Juvenile variant of PSC
 Staff card – biometric trial
 Pin Mailer
 Card Reader Simulator
 Provision of on-line authentication

SAFE Registration Process

SAFE 0 to 2 : DSP dedicated PPS number
registration centres

SAFE 1 to 2 : Local/Branch Office network
 Supplementary
 Other
Agencies
options under consideration
Use Outside DSP Environment ?
EU Residence Permit?
 NTMA?
 Garda Age Card?
 Others?

Immediate Benefits
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Validation of Identity – provided SAFE principles
are not undermined
Potential for substantial reduction in the rate of
fraud and error
More secure payment token – chip and pin
Replacement of current insecure cards
Data enrichment – SAFE 2 registration
Efficiencies across the Public Service
Public Services Card
Questions and Answers
bernard.fitzpatrick@welfare.ie