Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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34. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of social protection payments who cash their cheques at post offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9056/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The department issues cheques across a range of schemes and at different frequencies, cheques can issue on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis and in response to emergency needs. Once the department has issued a cheque it is a matter for the customer how they wish to realise its value. Customers who are paid by cheque may cash them at financial institutions, including post offices, or lodge them directly to their bank accounts. Some customers may negotiate their cheques in the same manner every time they receive one and others may vary the method they wish to use. The Department does not record how cheques are realised by its customers.

In view of the above the department is unable say how many customers cash their cheques at Post Offices. However, the evidence available to the department is that the majority of the department’s customers paid by cheque choose to lodge them direct to their accounts.