Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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123. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that certain local Department offices are trying to actively encourage persons to avail of the service of banks instead of continuing to use their local post office (details supplied); if these offices have the authority to do this; and, if not, the steps she will take to have the practice discontinued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54543/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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It is standard Departmental practice to make jobseeker payments at the customers designated post office. The vast majority of jobseeker customers receive their payments in this manner on a weekly basis. Exceptions are made in certain circumstances, for instance while a person is undertaking a course of study under the back to education allowance, partaking of an internship under the Work Placement Program or National Internship Program and where there would be difficulty in accessing the post office during normal working hours. In addition, as announced in Budget 2014, new provisions are being introduced for many older jobseekers who have not yet reached the State pension age of 66. These provisions include the option to have payments made electronically into a bank or building society account. I would stress, however, this is optional and an individual may choose to continue to receive the jobseeker payment in a post office if they wish to do so.