Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
1173. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Intreo offices are actively distributing forms to change social protection payments from the post office to bank payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4610/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is taking all necessary measures, in line with the advice of the Department of Health, HSE and Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), to respond to the significant challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In order to comply with social distancing requirements, the Department has introduced fortnightly payments instead of weekly. The purpose of this change is to minimise the need for people to attend and queue in banks or post offices to collect payments and to help people restrict their movements to essential activities only.
In addition, alternative payment arrangements, such as the option to have one’s payment made directly into a bank account by EFT, are accommodated at the request of a customer. An Post has been kept informed of this initiative.
