Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We want to give people the choice of using a bank account, if they have one. The main business that the post office gets from us at the moment comprises two elements. One is the fact that we require anyone who is receiving jobseeker's payments to collect their money in person at the post office. That is a major element of the business of the post office and accounts for over 20 million transactions. The second element relates to people who do not have a bank account and who opt to use their local post office, and long may they continue to do so.

I have asked to have the form reassessed with a view to making the language more neutral. That is under way at the moment. I believe people should have an option in respect of what is best for their circumstances.

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