Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if it is his Department's policy to encourage people to receive payment via electronic funds transfer; if so, the way this is being done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37621/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's policy is to ensure cost effective arrangements are in place for making payments through a range of payment options and that the service is continually adapted by providing access to new payment services and facilities as they become available. Customers opt for a particular payment method having regard to their own circumstances.

The current range of payment options offered by my Department include payment made directly to the customer's bank or building society account, at post offices by means of a pension order book or by electronic or manual postdraft issued to a customer's designated post office, or by cheque to the home address of the customer.

Currently some 37% of customers receive direct payment to their bank or building society account, 53% of customers receive payment through their local post office and 10% are paid by cheque through the postal system.

It is government policy to facilitate the greater use of electronic payment systems in the economy in the interests of developing a world class payments environment in Ireland. In this context, I have undertaken a strategic review of my Department's payment requirements with the aim of identifying a payment solution for the future which will be flexible, cost-effective, customer focused, manageable and accountable.

The study will take account of the current market offerings in the financial services sector and advances in the card–based technologies with a view to seeing how future needs might best be met. The objective is to ensure that the new system will be cost effective and provide easy access to payments for customers throughout the country.