The roll-out of the new Public Services Card has cost €60m to date, the Public Accounts Committee has been told.
The card is designed to assist people aged 18 and over in accessing a range of government services and to cut down on fraud.
It was introduced in 2012 for people claiming social welfare payments and State pensions.
The Comptroller and Auditor General is presenting his audit of the Department of Social Protection to the committee this morning.
C&AG Seamus McCarthy told the committee that the contract with the service provider had to be renegotiated following delays and the cost of the contract rose by 16% to €23m.
Secretary General of the Department of Social Protection Niamh O'Donohue said the card would be a key asset in the deterrence of identity fraud.
The committee was told that 2.2m cards have been issued to date and it has estimated to have saved over €2.5m
The C&AG also told the committee that excess payments in the Farm Assist Scheme are estimated to amount to 10.4% of the scheme's total fund of €88m, while excess payments in the Household Benefit Schemes are estimated to amount 5.4% of the €75m fund.
