Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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233. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of branches in each of the State-supported banks that do not accept coins as lodgements; the policies each of the State-supported banks have in relation to the receipt of coins; the statutory role of his Department and the Central Bank in relation to this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39012/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the role of the Minister for Finance in relation to coins is set out in the Coinage Act 1950, the Decimal Currency Acts 1969-1990 and the Economic and Monetary Union Act 1998. The Economic and Monetary Union Act 1998 covers issuance of both circulating and commemorative coins. The Central Bank of Ireland acts as an agent of the Minister of Finance in the production and the issuing of euro coins, in accordance with the principles and rules of the Eurosystem.  It has the exclusive right to issue cash into circulation and responsibility for the organisation of the national cash cycle.

In relation to the individual banks I have received the following responses to the Deputy's question.

AIB:

"AIB continues to support our customers’ requirements in regard to coin lodgements. AIB accepts coin lodgements in all (*) branches during normal hours. Additionally, in response to customers’ needs, AIB has further recently invested in new Coin Dropsafe devices for busier branches which offer customers a new more convenient choice for lodging coin to an AIB account during busy teller periods. This service is unique in the marketplace and has been specifically designed for AIB so that it can now deliver a simple and quick self-service option for business customers who have coin in their business lodgements. Finally, through the partnership with An Post, AIB customers can also make lodgements, including coin, to their accounts in c.1,100 An Post Offices across the country.

(*Note: AIB has 6 tellerless outlets that cannot accept coin lodgements)"

Bank of Ireland:

"Bank of Ireland has the largest footprint of any individual bank with c.250 branches in the Republic of Ireland, approximately 60% of which accept coin lodgements. We have a comprehensive multichannel distribution platform, combining branch, app, online, and phone banking. The way in which our customers choose to bank is more diverse than ever which is why we provide a multichannel distribution platform. Only 3% of customers’ total transactions are conducted over the counter and every month we have more than 14 million customer interactions on the mobile and tablet app, online, and on the telephone."

Permanent TSB:

“Permanent TSB branches are open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm. Approximately 20% of branches also open until 8pm on Thursdays and from 10am to 2pm on Saturdays. The Bank’s full cashier facilities are available in all 77 branches from 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday and branches accept cash and coin lodgements from all customers. In a small number of branches, the Bank has local arrangements, whereby customers with large coin volumes will lodge at certain times during the day, in such cases, this would be agreed in advance with these customers.”