Mr. Brian McGann:

While it may not cost the Department for Social Protection the €60 million it currently pays for the service, it may cost the State in some other shape or form. The Grant Thornton report highlights this issue where it asks what value has been placed on the fraud deterrence role of post offices and the amount of money being returned to the Exchequer and what value has been placed on the possibility that financial exclusion may increase if the post office network deteriorates. This issue is being viewed in a highly simplistic manner. The Government has not considered what would be lost if we moved to direct electronic payments.