Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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143. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the approximate backlog on applications for the public services card; if public services card appointments have recommenced given level 5 restrictions have been lifted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26143/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department temporarily suspended Public Services Card (PSC) appointments and the online system used to manage those appointments. This decision was taken in order to comply with HSE and World Health Organisation guidelines and help protect the health and well-being of our customers and staff. 

All offices carrying out PSC appointments re-opened on Monday 17th May and any person who requires a PSC should contact their local Intreo Centre.  

While PSC appointments were suspended since the beginning of the year because of the Level 5 restrictions, appointments were available for urgent cases in circumstances where the customer had no alternative means of accessing public services other than by acquiring a PSC. So far this year, my Department has carried out over 19,600 PSC appointments in such cases.

From next week, the Department will be contacting those who have requested an appointment and have not yet received one, to arrange an appointment. Overall figures on the number of such cases are not available, as these requests are dealt with on a local basis. 

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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145. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures being taken to tackle the backlog of appointment requests for public services cards in Cork city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26222/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department temporarily suspended Public Services Card (PSC) appointments and the online system used to manage those appointments.  This decision was taken in order to comply with HSE and World Health Organisation guidelines and help protect the health and well-being of our customers and staff. 

All offices carrying out PSC appointments re-opened from Monday 17th May and any person who requires a PSC should contact their local Intreo Centre or Branch Office.  

While PSC appointments were suspended since the beginning of the year because of the Level 5 restrictions, appointments were available for urgent cases in circumstances where the customer had no alternative means of accessing public services other than by acquiring a PSC.  So far this year, my Department has carried out over 19,600 PSC appointments in such cases.

I trust this clarifies the matter.