Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 6

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.

Ivan Yates

Question:

67 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will clarify the prospective situation in relation to arrangements for social welfare payments through post offices and sub-post offices; if Government policy will be to ensure the future existence of these sub-post offices particularly in the rural areas to ensure that departmental social welfare and other businesses will be transmitted through them; if the position in relation to tendering out these services will be clarified; and if the Government will make a statement in relation to the long-term future of, and its commitment to, sub-post offices as part of regional and rural development policy. [12509/99]

Michael Ring

Question:

68 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to cease paying any benefits through An Post; the further plans, if any, he has to stop or reduce the number of book payments through An Post with particular reference to disability benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12511/99]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 67 and 68 together.

The bulk of social welfare payments are delivered in cash at post offices. The contract for this service between my Department and An Post is due to expire at the end of this year. As the Deputies will know, public procurement obligations, including EU obligations, require that business of this kind be offered to the market by way of open competitive tender.

An Post is aware of the legal requirements in this regard. In view of their long experience and track record, I have no doubt that An Post will compete very effectively for the payments delivery business.

It is not possible, of course, to pre-judge the outcome of the competitive process as far as the delivery of social welfare payments in the future is concerned. However, my colleague the Minister for Public Enterprise has stated the Government's commitment to the retention of the post office network and to its use for the delivery of as comprehensive a range of services as possible.

In regard to disability benefit payments which are currently delivered at post offices the administration of these payments is being transferred to a different computer system. Under the new system, it will be possible for customers to continue to collect their payments at post offices.

My policy, and that of my predecessors, has been to ensure that the most modern and the widest range of payment methods are available to social welfare customers according to their personal needs and preferences.