Public Service Identity

This department is responsible for:

issuing the Public Services Card (PSC)
managing the Personal Public Service (PPS) Number
providing a range of Public Service Identity (PSI) management functions
providing data matching services to other bodies specified under legislation

The department is also obliged to ensure that, as far as possible, all the personal data it holds is accurate, complete and up to date. Where bodies specified under legislation, for example the Road Safety Authority (RSA), collect PSI data from a person, that information can be used to maintain the person's PSI dataset, which is held and managed by this department.

The PSI dataset is defined in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) as the following:

PPS Number
surname
forename
date of birth
place of birth
sex (please see here for information on Gender Recognition Certificates )
all former surnames (if any)
all former surnames (if any) of his or her mother
address
nationality
date of death
certificate of death, where relevant
where required, a photograph of the person, except where the person is deceased
where required, the person's signature, except where the person is deceased
any other information as may be required for authentication purposes that is uniquely linked to or is capable of identifying that person
any other information that may be prescribed which, in the opinion of the Minister, is relevant to and necessary for the allocation of a PPS Number

Changing your name

Change of name by use and repute

You must show 2 years' usage of your new name.

To do this, you must submit at least 2 of the following official documents:

official communication with a government department
educational certificate
bank statement or card
utility bill
student or employee identification card (or similar), dating back for at least two years

Following marriage or civil partnership

To change your name following a marriage or civil partnership, you must submit:

photo identification in your pre-marriage or civil partnership name (for example Public Services Card, passport, or driving licence), and
your marriage or civil partnership certificate

Reverting to your pre-marriage or pre-civil partnership name

To change your name back to your pre-marriage or pre-civil partnership name, you must submit divorce, dissolution or legal separation agreement documents or correspondence from a solicitor showing that a separation, divorce or dissolution has been initiated.

Name changed by deed poll

If you have changed your name by deed poll, you must submit a deed poll registered with the Irish High Court.

Public Service Identity

Changing your name

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