I am glad that the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Varadkar, is in the House. It is stated on page 48 of the programme for Government that the Government will actively encourage payments at post offices. Earlier today at a local post office in County Kerry a woman informed the post office clerk that she will no longer be availing of the post office's services as her jobseeker's allowance payment, up to now paid to her by cheque by the Department of Social Protection, will no longer be made to her by cheque as the Department is no longer issuing cheques. I was informed by the Kenmare social welfare office in County Kerry that the instruction not to issue any more cheques was issued in March 2016, leaving recipients no option but to have their payments paid into their bank accounts. This will result in the closure of post offices.

The Minister has up to now been helpful in terms of listening to what I have to say about payments to post offices. I am asking him to act in this matter. I know his heart is in the right place but will he act accordingly?

I thank Deputy Michael Healy-Rae for raising this important issue. I can assure him that the Government is committed to the post office network and to continued use of it. People in receipt of regular weekly social welfare payments have a choice. They can either have their payments paid into their bank accounts or receive them at their post office.

I have issued a directive to staff to ensure they do not actively encourage anyone to go for a bank account over the post office and the Deputy has seen that. What the Deputy is referring to is something that occurred only in the first few weeks or around the time of the change of Government in respect of what are called casual jobseekers, that is, those who are in part-time employment who also receive jobseeker's allowance. In those cases, the Department no longer issues cheques and instead payments are made directly into accounts.

This was today.

If the Deputy wants to give me the details, I will follow it up.