Trevor Sargent
Question:74 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount his Department has invested in An Post for the introduction of the new card welfare payment system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Personal Social Services Card.
An Post is the main agency for the payment of social welfare pensions and benefits. Last year my Department and An Post concluded an agreement for the provision of encashment services and for the modernisation of post office counter services which will ensure that social welfare customers receive a truly modern service.
Like most other social welfare customers, unemployed persons will receive their unemployment payments at post offices as cash payments are phased out of local offices of my Department leaving the way open for the introduction of less frequent "signing-on" and improved information services for customers. As part of its programme for the modernisation of all its counter services, An Post is introducing new technology to improve the speed and efficiency of making these payments. New technology will be introduced at 600 post offices over a three year period. The new personal social services card, designed to banking standards, will speed up access for customers to payments at post offices.
Over the five year period of the agreement it is estimated that the cost of paying social welfare payments at post offices will be of the order of £163 million and that the cost of the development of new technology services for my Department will be of the order of £18 million.