Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1042. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views in relation to returning to signing on at post offices and if this would increase the risk for recipients and post office staff of contracting the omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus (details supplied). [1814/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Since March 2020, my Department has taken all necessary measures, in line with the advice of the Department of Health, HSE and Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), to respond to the significant challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

These included introducing fortnightly instead of weekly payments in 2020 to help facilitate social distancing requirements, as well as giving customers the option to request payment directly into a bank account by electronic fund transfer (EFT).  In addition, the time period in which cash payments had to be collected at post offices was considerably extended. 

The fortnightly payment pattern was discontinued in October 2020 due to the difficulties presented to our customers, including our most vulnerable, in trying to manage money on a fortnightly basis.  However, the other measures remain in place.

It is worth noting that since the onset of the pandemic, there has been improved public knowledge of socially distancing requirements and the need to wear face masks.  All post offices have been equipped with fixed sanitiser units so that customers can sanitise their hands.  Post offices also have clearly marked signs to assist with social distancing and staff operate behind transparent screens.

Retail has reopened nationally and is operating safely.  The post office network has remained open throughout the pandemic and has processed approximately 45 million social welfare payments over the last 2 years.

My officials and I continue to review the Department’s payment policy in light of the ongoing health situation.