Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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1147. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if his Department has evaluated the potential impact of cashless payment policies on people who are dependent on social welfare payments, particularly older persons and those without access to digital banking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57729/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department takes the importance of financial inclusion and the provision of a platform where all of its customers, critically the most vulnerable, can participate in the economy and society very seriously.

As such, my Department provides two main payment options for its customers: payment in cash at post offices or payment directly into customer accounts by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT). Approximately 70% of all Social Welfare payments are issued by EFT and 30% are made by cash collection at post offices. A small number of ad hoc payments are also made by cheque.

With the exception of a small number of schemes, due to control reasons, my Department remains committed to providing all social welfare recipients with a choice of payment method. My Department respects customer choice and makes payments in line with customer preference where choice is available. It is not proposed to limit the freedom of social welfare customers to be paid directly at a post office, nor are any cashless payment policies on people in receipt of welfare payments under consideration.

In the case of the small number of schemes, where control reasons apply, the Department pays recipients their social welfare payment through the post office network where the customer can collect their payment in cash. This applies to all recipients of these schemes.

The National Payment Strategy 2024 considers the evolution of the use of cash, including the continuing role of cash in society, payment fraud, and the future of payments. It considers how the criteria for reasonable access to cash should evolve as cash usage changes in the future and it sets out the need to ensure that cash can be accepted as a means of payment where possible. The strategy makes it a requirement for public services provided by Government Departments and their agencies to be available through cash. The Department of Social Protection supports the measures included in the National Payments Strategy.