Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1195. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if regular social welfare payments will be advanced in order to reduce the need for persons to attend post and social welfare offices. [4990/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is taking all necessary measures, in line with the advice of the Department of Health, HSE and Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), to respond to the significant challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In March, in order to comply with social distancing requirements, the Department introduced fortnightly payments instead of weekly. The purpose of this change is to minimise the need for people to attend and queue in banks or post offices to collect payments and to help people restrict their movements to essential activities only.