Written answers
Tuesday, 30 April 2024
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Payments
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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439. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection with reference to the Departmental contract with An Post, if her Department has put in a penalty clause on any welfare overpayment, given it was always paid back by postmasters who are now being informed of a €500 penalty per overpayment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18824/24]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Cash welfare payments are governed by the Department’s Cash Payment Services Contract with An Post which was signed in December 2019 following an open public procurement process. This contract came into effect on 1 January 2020.
This contract is exclusively with An Post. There is no contractual relationship between my Department and post masters. The working arrangements of the postmasters are entirely a matter for the company. It would be inappropriate for my Department to involve itself in those matters
The Cash Payment Services Contract contains agreed minimum service standards for the delivery of social welfare payments at post offices. Where postal outlets do not adhere to these minimum standards, the Department imposes service performances re-credits on An Post, as per the terms of the Cash Payment Services Contract.
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