Departmental Banking

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 November 2013

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Questions (427)

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

427. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the value of services provided to the public by his Department and entities reporting to his Department where a payment is accepted by debit or credit card; the percentage of additional charge that is applied to such transactions under the merchant agreement; the total value of the additional charge in respect of debit and credit cards in 2012; if any portion of the additional charge accrued to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50128/13]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

My Department accepts payment by debit/credit card for certain services in National Parks and in the National Archives of Ireland. In 2012, payments to my Department by debit or credit card totalled €87,401. Merchant service costs and bank charges for the facilitation of the electronic payments range from 1% to 2.79% per transaction depending on the service provider and are met by my Department. In 2012, transaction fees and terminal rental expenditure by my Department was €3,290. No additional charges are imposed on such transactions by my Department.

With regard to bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group, the Deputy will appreciate that the matters raised are part of the day-to-day operational responsibilities of the bodies in question. I am arranging, therefore, for the terms of the Deputy’s Question to be transmitted to the heads of relevant bodies with a request that they provide information, to the extent feasible, directly to the Deputy.