Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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272. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide details of any discussions or consultations that she has had with representatives of postmasters in relation to the huge workload expected by them in the coming weeks, especially in terms of paying double payments and fortnightly payments in the same week; if she will be holding meetings with any representatives to discuss other issues (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61527/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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This Government is committed to maintaining the post office network and for An Post to remain in a position to provide a high quality postal service and maintain a nationwide customer-focused network of post offices in the community.  My Department’s support for An Post is equally apparent.  We are in the process of renewing the contract for cash payment services with the company for another year.  The current agreement allows me, as Minister, to extend the term of the contract on an annual basis up to the end of 2025.

Every year, my Department staggers payments over both the Easter and Christmas holiday periods to cater for post offices, banks and credit unions being closed.  This Christmas, double payments will be made in the week commencing Monday 19th of December.  This ensures that social welfare customers will receive their payments even though financial institutions and post offices are closed on Monday 26th, Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th December.  Post offices, which are usually open on Saturday mornings, are also closed this year on Saturday 31st of December.

As the week leading up to Christmas Day is usually busy in post offices, there is a longstanding arrangement with An Post to bring payments forward in order to better manage customer footfall and to pay social welfare customers an extra few days before Christmas.  The scheduling of the double week payments being made in the week commencing Monday 19 December 2022 is as follows:

- Friday 23rd December payments will be brought forward to Thursday 22nd December.

- Thursday 22nd December payments will be brought forward to Wednesday 21st December. 

- There is no change to payments due Monday 19th, Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st of December.

- Monday 2nd January 2023 payments will be paid on Friday 30th December 2022.

My Department’s contract for the provision of cash payment services is with An Post.  The working arrangements of the post masters is a matter for the company. 

The Christmas payment arrangements were agreed by my Department in advance with An Post and follow similar payment schedules which have operated successfully for many years. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.