Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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400. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that An Post has reintroduced the signing pen for persons collecting social welfare; the reason for the reintroduction of the pen following its suspension due to Covid-19 restrictions and in view of the ongoing threat posed by Covid-19; if she will consider working with other Departments to suspend the requirement as an additional potential risk factor, particularly to those in vulnerable groups collecting benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41839/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The requirement for recipients to sign for their cash payment is an important tool in helping to prevent the fraudulent collection of social welfare payments by unauthorised persons.  This is done by means of an electronic signing pad.  An electronic signature can only be captured by using a purpose-made stylus which is physically connected to the signing pad. 

Disabling the signature pads was one of a number of temporary measures introduced last March to assist in reducing the spread of Covid-19.  However, this weakened the financial controls in place to prevent fraud.  Therefore, in agreement with my Department, An Post are now gradually reactivating the signing pads in the post office network along with providing a dedicated hand sanitiser unit beside each pad.  This allows customers to sanitise their hands both before and after using the electronic signing pad.

Other measures to help reduce the transmission of Covid-19 have been introduced by An Post with the co-operation of my Department.  The period of time in which cash payments have to be collected at post offices has been extended.  This is to facilitate those who can afford to collect a number of payments together on a less frequent basis.  For State Pensions, that period is 90 days.  In addition, more flexibility has been introduced to the rules around nominating an agent to collect social welfare payments at a post office on someone else’s behalf.  This now allows for more frequent agent collections.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.