Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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123. To ask the Minister for Finance if there are plans to review the National Payments Strategy with a view to ensuring that all Government agencies including the NDLS accept cash payments for their services on the premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64212/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In October 2024, the then Minister of Finance, Jack Chambers TD, published a new National Payments Strategy (NPS). The strategy has informed the vision for the future development of the Irish retail payments system over the period to 2030.

A wide public consultation process was held as part of the research and development of the NPS. The Strategy examined a number of issues, including the acceptance of cash and considered if legislation should be introduced to require certain sectors or sub-sectors to accept or facilitate the acceptance of cash. By extension, it was also considered whether it should be policy of the Government to require the public service to accept or facilitate the acceptance of cash.

The Strategy is clear that there is a need to ensure that cash can be accepted as a means of payment, where appropriate. The NPS outlines that all Government departments and bodies under their aegis, accept electronic payments and cash payments or facilitate cash payments. Government departments and bodies under the aegis will be required to confirm compliance in their annual reports from 2026 onwards.

At the same time, in the development of the NPS, it was important to be mindful of European Commission initiatives on this topic. In June of 2023, the European Commission published a proposal for a Regulation on Legal Tender to look at access to, and acceptance of, cash across Member States. The Regulation will enshrine the principal of mandatory acceptance in the EU. The proposal is progressing at EU Council level, with the Danish Presidency indicating that it intends to reach a General Approach during its term.

In relation to NDLS centres, cash is not accepted directly in NDLS centres, however in line with the NPS, the NDLS will facilitate cash payments using a third party. Consumers wishing to pay for NDLS services in cash, can go to any retail outlet that displays the ‘Payzone’ sign.

At the retailer, consumers can purchase a Payzone voucher using their cash and bring the Payzone voucher to a NDLS centre in order to obtain their services.