Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will supply scanners to businesses (details supplied) to allow them access the swipe cards which recently issued to social welfare recipients in view of the fact that there is confusion with the old system at the present time between the businesses and the recipient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36442/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department supports government policy which aims to facilitate the greater use of electronic payment systems in the economy in the interests of developing a world class payments environment in Ireland. Our payment strategy is designed to ensure that cost effective arrangements are in place for making payments to social welfare customers by using a range of payment options and to ensure that new payment facilities are made available to customers as they arise. Currently some 90% of customers receive their payment electronically direct to their post office or financial institution.

A range of measures were undertaken to inform customers of the change in payment methods and to address any concerns they may have regarding the use of the social services card to collect their payment at post offices. Each person is informed by personal letter of the change in their payment arrangement. A social services card, along with a covering letter explaining how to use the card, is also issued to them. Posters are displayed in all post offices, citizen's information centres and throughout the Department's local office network. An Post and the Irish Postmaster's Union (IPU) are committed to assisting customers in the use of cards for collecting their payment

The Social Services Card is used as a key for accessing the An Post counter system and for identifying customers. Where the counter systems are not yet in place in non-automated post offices or PostBank offices, payment is made by way of a paper post draft. An Post are currently in the process of upgrading all post offices to facilitate electronic payment transfer. The upgrading of An Post counter systems, and the Post Office network, are a matter for the board of An Post which comes under the remit of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The PostPoint electronic transactions services infrastructure is a matter for Postbank Ireland Limited.