All public bodies are to be mandated to continue accepting cash from customers paying for services. The move comes after an intervention by the Finance Minister Michael McGrath who indicated that the measure will also apply to those under contract by the State to provide services.
It follows efforts by businesses in recent times - including Applus which provides NCT services - to introduce an online payment system that excludes cash. Monaghan native, Celine Clarke who is head of advocacy at Age Action, says it's a very welcome development for the six in ten older people across Ireland who are not digitally literate.
Speaking on this morning's Joe Finnegan Show, she pointed out that a move to a cashless society would socially exclude those people and make them vulnerable in the digital space. Celine added that the Minister's intervention is "sensible" and the measure must also be applied to the private sector.
"Many of us can't manage our affairs online; many of us don't want to; and for many of us, it's not safe either," continued Celine. "If you are not digitally literate then it's not a safe space to be online because you are opening yourself up to fraud and potential elder abuse from family members maybe taking over control of money.
"And also people who might be in abusive relationships might not want a digital footprint of their money and how they are spending it - and that is really important as well."
