Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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329. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if those persons in receipt of children's allowance receive payments into their bank accounts on the Saturday of bank holidays; the reason those in receipt of children's allowance can only access the payment on bank holiday weekends if they are with Bank of Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24408/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The entitlement date for child benefit is the first Tuesday of every month.

The Department of Social Protection makes child benefit payments to customers either through An Post or to a bank account nominated by the customer. In the case of payments to bank accounts, the Department sends payment instructions to Bank of Ireland on the Monday before the first Tuesday of a month. Bank of Ireland processes these payment instructions and makes payments to accounts held with Bank of Ireland. It also forwards payment instructions to the Euro area clearing and settlement service for payments to third party bank accounts.

In the case of bank holiday weekends, the Department brings forward the issue of a payment file to Bank of Ireland to the previous Friday in order to ensure payments are available on the following Tuesday. Bank of Ireland, as part of its internal processing, may make funds available to their customers’ accounts on the following day (Saturday) but the amount is not fully credited to their account until the due date of the first Tuesday of the month. Payments to accounts in third party banks are processed as normal through the clearing system with a payment date of the first Tuesday of the month. The practice by Bank of Ireland has no bearing on the Department in respect of earlier transfer of funds as the Department’s accounts are not debited until the Tuesday entitlement date.

In the case of the person concerned, payment was available to her on the first Tuesday of the month, as normal.