asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider posting cheques for old age pension payments to all old age pensioners as the present system of collection makes it very difficult for many of them to obtain their payments at the appropriate time; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Payment of Old Age Pensions.
488.
There is no evidence that old age pensioners generally experience difficulty in obtaining payment in respect of their pension orders each Friday. An Post, through its country-wide network of post offices, provides a very acceptable level of service to social welfare recipients which, it is considered, would not necessarily be provided by a cheque payment system. Where a pensioner is unable to cash his pension orders personally arrangements can be made for the appointment of an agent for this purpose.
The changeover to a system of complete payment by cheque would not necessarily, therefore, be to the advantage of social welfare beneficiaries. However, the Department is undertaking a review of all its payment systems to ensure that in the context of the Department's computerisation programme it will be possible to avail as far as possible and where necessary of the most modern methods of payment. Progress in this area will depend on the rate of development of computer facilities.