Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Nov 1993

Vol. 436 No. 3

Written Answers. - Differentiation Between Currency Notes.

Liz McManus

Question:

72 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the difficulty that blind people have in differentiating between the £10 note and the £20 note, he will ensure that steps are taken to change one of the notes as this matter is a cause of concern to blind people; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Finance (Mr. B. Ahern)

Under section 118 of the Central Bank Act, 1989, the issue of the currency notes is a matter for the Central Bank.

The new £20 note and £10 note were introduced in November 1992 and September 1993 respectively following consultations, inter alia, with the representatives of both the National Council for the Blind and the National League of the Blind.

The Central Bank has informed me that the difference in size between each successive denomination is 8mm in length and 4mm in height, as in the previous series. The new notes are being printed on high-quality security paper which gives a unique "feel" to each note. Certain areas of the new notes will also be printed by the intaglio or raised method. Finally, a new feature has been introduced in this series of notes to further assist the blind in denomination recognition. Each denomination will carry a separate "tactile mark" to facilitate recognition.