Cash welfare payments are governed by the Department’s Cash Payment Services Contract with An Post which was signed in December 2019 following an open public procurement process. This contract came into effect on 1 January 2020.
This contract is exclusively with An Post. There is no contractual relationship between my Department and post masters. The working arrangements of the postmasters are entirely a matter for An Post. It would be inappropriate for my Department to involve itself in those matters.
The Cash Payment Services Contract contains agreed minimum service standards for the delivery of social welfare payments at post offices. Where these minimum standards are not adhered to, as per the terms of the Cash Payment Services Contract, the Department may impose service performances re-credits on An Post.