Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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286. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the role of post offices in delivering her Department's payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15806/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department of Social Protection will pay over €50m to An Post under a contract for cash payment services to welfare customers this year. This contract which may be extended up to December 2019 will provide continuity of payments to customers at Post Offices.

We are all aware of the general societal trend to electronic payments. This trend undeniably presents a challenge for the current business model of An Post. In this context I am pleased to note that An Post has advertised for services relating to a new payments and transaction account. I look forward to that account becoming available in the not too distant future as it will provide alternative payment opportunities for the Department’s customers and enable An Post to meet its future business needs in an electronic payments environment.

Issues relating to the remuneration of Postmasters are a matter for An Post and my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the first instance, bearing in mind that An Post must continue to meet the agreed service level standards with this Department for contracted services.