McGrath wants public bodies to keep taking cash payments
The Minister for Finance has written to Government colleagues asking that public bodies under their remit maintain their existing payment methods in relation to accepting cash pending the completion of the National Payments Strategy.
Michael McGrath also said he expects that all public bodies that currently accept or facilitate the acceptance of cash will continue to do so in the future.
The National Payments Strategy will set out a roadmap for the future evolution of the country’s payments system and will take account of developments in digital payments and cash usage.
Amongst other issues, the NPS will look at the acceptance of notes and coins and consider if legislation should be introduced to require certain sectors or sub-sectors to accept or facilitate the acceptance of cash.
It will also consider whether it should be policy to require the public service to accept or facilitate the acceptance of cash.
The NPS will consult with the public in the fourth quarter of this year and a finalised strategy is due to be published in 2024.
This engagement process will consider whether it should be Government policy that public bodies should accept or facilitate the acceptance of cash for the payment of goods, services, taxes, levies, fees or charges.
“The strategy will set out a roadmap for the future evolution of the entire payments system, taking account of developments in digital payments, cash usage and how future changes should be made to the legislative criteria relating to Access to Cash,” the Minister for Finance said.
“It is for this reason I have written to all my Government colleagues asking them to maintain existing methods of cash payment for public bodies under their remit, pending the outcome of the National Payments Strategy,” Michael McGrath said.
“It is my expectation now that all public bodies that currently accept or facilitate the acceptance of cash should continue to do so,” he added.
While the Finance Department is undertaking its research, the Minister has asked that public bodies continue to ensure cash acceptance for services provided.
Article Source: McGrath wants public bodies to keep taking cash payments – RTE
