asked the Minister for Finance what arrangements have been made to cash cheques for Government employees who are non-resident in Dublin during the closure of the associated banks; and if he will clarify the position.
37.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cashing of Cheques.
36.
asked the Minister for Finance what arrangements have been made to cash cheques for State pensioners during the closure of the associated banks; and if he will clarify the position.
I propose, a Cheann Comhairle, with your permission to take Questions Nos. 36 and 37 together.
It has been left to each Department to make its own arrangements for the encashment of payable orders for Government employees who are not resident in Dublin. These employees have not reported any great difficulty in cashing their payable orders. Arrangements have also been made with the Department of Posts and Telegraphs whereby State pensioners may cash their payable orders at a post office and whereby all payable orders issued by Government Departments in payment of salaries or pensions may be lodged in, or where necessary used to open a post office savings account from which cash may be drawn in the normal manner.
Where can Government employees in rural areas cash cheques?
They can cash them in the post offices. There was some difficulty at the beginning but now provincial offices are coping and there have not been any complaints recently. Cheques can be cashed through the post offices, through CIE depots and through large industrial firms. Cheques can be lodged in post offices and up to £30 a week can be drawn out.
I am interested in the case of an employee who had a cheque for £230 which he could not cash anywhere. A post office will not cash a cheque for £230.
Such a cheque may be lodged in the post office by way of opening an account. From this amcunt, a sum of £30 may be drawn every six days.