Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 May 1999

Vol. 505 No. 2

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.

Paul Bradford

Question:

145 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the range of payments from his Department which can be paid through the post office but are now being scheduled for payment by electronic funds transfer or directly by cheque; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many claimants wish to retain the system of payment through the post office; if his attention has further been drawn to the social value to many people including the elderly of visiting their local post office on a weekly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13431/99]

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

Pensions and other long-term social welfare payments have traditionally been paid by pension order book at post offices. Short-term payments such as disability benefit are generally paid by cheque or, in the case of unemployment payments up to recent times, in cash at the Department's offices.

Unemployment payments are now generally paid at post offices through the use of a social services card. Certain long duration disability benefit payments were transferred in 1992 from payment by cheque to payment by payable order book at post offices. These payments are cur rently being transferred back to the standard disability payment arrangement. Because of concerns expressed, these cases are being offered the option of continuing to be paid at the post office if this is their wish.

It has been the policy for many years to extend the range of choice of payment methods available to social welfare customers.

My policy in relation to access to social welfare payments is to provide for my Department's customers a modern, cost-effective, flexible and convenient payments delivery service which takes account of customer preferences and the changes taking place in the area of payment systems generally. In this context, quality of service and convenient access to payments have always been, and will continue to be, indispensable features of my Department's payments delivery systems.

I recognise and value the central role which post offices have played over many years and continue to play in providing a service to my Department's customers. I believe that An Post is well positioned to continue providing this service into the future. The Government is committed to maintaining the network of post offices, as stated by my colleague, the Minister for Public Enterprise.