Vol. 531 No. 3
39 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the status of discussions which he has had with the Irish League of Credit Unions in relation to the delivery of social welfare payments by the credit unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5718/01]
Customers of my Department may opt to have their social welfare payments automatically credited to their personal accounts at banks and other financial institutions. Officials of my Department have had exploratory discussions over recent years with the Irish League of Credit Unions concerning the possible extension of this facility to customers who hold accounts at credit unions.
The current position in this regard is that my Department and the Irish League of Credit Unions have agreed in principle that the facility to pay social welfare payments into credit union accounts can be introduced as quickly as possible once the necessary facilities and infrastructures have been put in place by the credit union movement. This includes participation by the movement in the national electronic money transmission system and the acquisition of the information technology systems needed to support such a facility. I understand that work on the acquisition and introduction of these services and systems is currently in progress.
The precise timescale which will be involved in this process is a matter for the credit union movement. I look forward to extending the electronic payments service to my Departments customers who have accounts at credit unions once this process has been completed.
Question No. 40 answered with Question No. 33.
