Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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597. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding post office payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31170/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Successive Governments, and this one most notably, have consistently stated their commitment to maintaining the post office network. 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 support for An Post is equally apparent. We anticipate this year that we will pay over €50m to An Post under a contract for the cash payment services to welfare customers as well as an estimated €9.7m for postal services.

The Department of Social Protection provides two main options for payment methods for its customers: payments in cash in post offices or payments direct to customer accounts in financial institutions. The Department intends, where possible, to continue to offer its many clients the choice of being paid in cash at the post office or directly into an account in a financial institution.

Departmental staff were accordingly advised in July of last year that, when dealing with customers who are making new claims or seeking to change their payment arrangements, customers can choose between payment at the post office or by electronic funds transfer. Customer wishes are to be facilitated where they choose to receive their social welfare payment at their local post office. There is no change to schemes where customer choice is not currently available for control or other specified purpose.

It is also not proposed to limit the freedom of social welfare customers to be paid directly into a financial institution if they so choose. This is in line with wider Departmental policy where the focus is on ensuring that in-work customers are paid by the most convenient method possible.