Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
1139. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding fortnightly payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9397/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is very appreciative of all the work done by both An Post and the Postmasters in delivering essential welfare cash payments to the public in these difficult times. Their efforts have maintained the delivery of social welfare payments while assisting with social distancing measures designed to combat the spread of the Coronavirus.
Fortnightly payments were introduced to minimise the need for people to attend and queue in banks or post offices to collect payments, so helping people restrict their movements to essential activities only. These were introduced on a ‘payment in advance’ basis so people did not have to wait two weeks for a payment.
Some payments, such as Maternity Benefit, Paternity Benefit and Parental Benefit, which are paid exclusively into a customer’s bank account by Electronic Fund Transfer, have reverted to a weekly payment pattern. However, no decision has yet been made on the reversion of other schemes to weekly payments, given the continued need to maintain social distancing.
The Department’s contractual relationship is with An Post and not with individual post offices. I am advised that reimbursement of the post offices for welfare transactions made under this contract is therefore not a matter for my Department but wholly within the remit of An Post.
The two-week payment cycle will be kept under review in the context of the current crisis and the need for social distancing and I look forward to a continuing excellent working relationship with An Post.
