Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1111. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the increased numbers of persons in An Post branches as a result of changes to opening hours resulting from Easter public holidays; if her attention has been further drawn to the impact this has on social distancing and raised anxiety among those who collect payments in-branch; the health and safety measures that have been undertaken to address queues in the lead up to public holidays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18356/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Every year, my Department staggers payments over both the Easter and Christmas holiday periods to cater for post offices and banks being closed. This Easter, payments which fell due for payment on Easter Monday and Good Friday were brought forward for payment to Thursday, 1st April. Payments which were due for payment on Thursday, 1st April were brought forward to Wednesday, 31st March and some Wednesday payments were moved to Tuesday, 30th March.

This payment arrangement with An Post and the banks has operated successfully for many years as it distributes payments equally over the days on which financial institutions are open.

In addition to the usual holiday arrangements, my Department introduced a series of measures to maintain welfare payments while assisting with the necessity for social distancing. In co-operation with An Post, the period within which payments have to be collected at post offices has been extended. For example, anyone in receipt of a pension payment now has up to 90 days in which to collect their payment at a post office.

In addition, flexibility has been introduced to the rules on nominating agents to collect social welfare payments at post offices. This has allowed those who feel most at risk to nominate someone else to collect their payment at the post office on their behalf.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.