Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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153. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will withdraw the revised application forms from her Department and replace them with the previous forms, which proferred payment at the post office as the first option listed and no recommendation was made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24488/15]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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178. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the issuing of her Department's payment forms, which give a clear recommendation from her Department to use financial institutions in preference to using the post office; if she will arrange for these forms to be withdrawn and replaced with the previous forms, which contained no such recommendation and where payment to the post office was the first option given; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24885/15]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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181. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding her Department recommending to persons, on pension application forms, to use banks for payments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24900/15]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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188. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason her Department has issued application forms for social welfare payments with a clear recommendation to use commercial banks in preference to using the post office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24955/15]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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189. To ask the Minister for Social Protection with regard to the new forms for social welfare payments, which contain clear recommendations to use commercial banks in preference to using the post office, if she will withdraw and replace these forms with the previous issue of forms, where payment at the post office was given as the first option listed and no recommendation was made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24956/15]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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193. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will withdraw the use of application forms which recommend the use of commercial banks in preference to the use of post offices in relation to social welfare payments. [24997/15]

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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194. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will withdraw forms issued by her Department, which recommend that persons opt to receive payments through commercial banks rather than through the post office, to implement the Irish Postmasters Union's six-point action plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25003/15]

Áine Collins (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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195. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason her Department's recently issued new forms state that the best payment option is to a financial institution, that is, to a bank, and places the post office as the second option (details supplied). [25004/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 153, 173, 178, 181, 188, 189 and 193 to 195, inclusive, together.

Successive Governments and this one most notably, have consistently stated their commitment to maintaining the post office network as set out in the Programme for Government. The post office is seen as a key piece of financial and social infrastructure for both urban and rural areas. Part of the strength of the post office brand, and one of its chief selling points, is that it reaches all parts of the country and can be accessed by anyone. It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company in a position to provide a high quality postal service and maintain a nationwide customer focussed network of post offices in the community.

My Department’s continuing support for An Post is apparent, both in terms of the cost of postage services and the value of the contract for welfare payments. In this regard, we anticipate this year that we will pay over €50 million to An Post under a contract for cash payment services to welfare customers. This contract is very substantial in terms of its reach, value and impact.

As you are aware my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Alex White, T.D., formally launched the Post Office Network Business Development Group under the independent Chairmanship of Mr Bobby Kerr in February, 2015 to explore potential commercial opportunities available to the post office network.

I understand An Post is anxious to grow its existing levels of services in the light of emerging market pressures which extend beyond the delivery of welfare payments. In this context I am pleased to note An Post has tendered for the provision of a new payment and transaction account. I look forward to that becoming available in the not too distant future as it will provide alternative payment opportunities for my Department’s customers.

In order to recognise the general societal trend to electronic payments the Department has been changing some of its application forms.

I want to emphasise that the amendments do not remove the option to be paid at the post office. This option will remain on the forms. Therefore, customers are free to opt to receive their payment at the post office if they wish. I also want to emphasise that the department continuously reviews its forms to ensure that they are amenable and relevant to all customers. In order to ensure that the department’s forms present payment options equally, I have asked the department to update them to ensure that a neutral wording in relation to payment options is provided and to also ensure that one payment option is not favoured over another.

The Department is conscious of the important role of the post office around the country, not only in respect of social welfare payments but also in offering other financial services such as paying bills and carrying out a range of banking services. The Government has consistently stated its commitment to maintaining the post office network as set out in the Programme for Government.