Vol. 542 No. 4
164 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on the apparently contradictory policy in the Department of Social Community and Family Affairs which encourages payments through the banks while the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners charge an annual tax on the use of ATM and bank facilities; and if pensioners will be excluded from all bank charges [24688/01]
The overall aim of my Department's payment delivery policy is to ensure that the most modern and the widest range of payment methods, are available to my Department's customers. The principle of customer choice is an important element of my Department's service delivery strategy. My objective is to continually improve customer service by providing access for my Department's customers to a range of payment methods including new services and facilities as they become available in the money transmission market. Pensions can be paid either at a post office by pension order book or by electronic funds transfer into an account with a financial institution. It is a matter for each person to decide which method best suits his or her individual needs.
The issue of tax charges for banking facilities is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance. In relation to other banking charges I understand that some financial institutions already offer special facilities free of charge or at reduced charges to elderly persons.
