Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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158. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to continue using the post office network to administer payments from her Department; the number of years this is guaranteed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25788/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In 2014 approximately 48.8% of the department’s payments to customers were via cash payments services provided by An Post. It is anticipated that the proportion will be 47.5% in 2015 or around 37.5 million transactions.

There is a general societal trend towards electronic payments and new department of social welfare customers with a choice of payment options are overwhelmingly choosing to be paid into bank accounts.

The department is obliged under EU procurement rules to advertise its cash service contract. This was done in 2013 and a new cash services contract with An Post took effect on 1 Jan 2014 for a term of two years. The contract may be extended on the same terms and conditions for periods of up to 12 months each up to a maximum of 6 years including the initial two year term.