Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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212. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the value of services provided to the public by his Department and entities reporting to his Department where a payment is accepted by debit or credit card; the percentage of additional charge that is applied to such transactions under the merchant agreement; the total value of the additional charge in respect of debit and credit cards in 2012; if any portion of the additional charge accrued to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50132/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department facilitates payments in a number of different ways, principally via banking online through commercial bank accounts, via cheques, bank drafts and postal money orders. Within the Government sector my Department also facilitates payments from other Government Departments via the Office of the Pay Master General's system of Internal Fund Transfers. My Department has not historically collected payments via debit or credit cards and has, therefore, not operated merchant agreements for such payment services. Details relating to payment services in respect of bodies/institutions under my Department's remit are a matter for each body/institution. However, if the Deputy has a specific interest in a particular body/institution I will have my officials follow up with the relevant organisation.