Post offices to allow electronic payments

SOCIAL and Family Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan has promised postmasters they will be given “space” to introduce technology to facilitate social welfare payments through the post office network.

However, Mr Brennan also repeated his determination to press ahead with plans to increase the number of benefits paid by electronic means. The minister claimed the switch towards the electronic payment of social welfare monies to customers was “irreversible.”

He explained many people were now looking for payments to be made in this manner, while there were also considerations about efficiency and security.