Seán Canney TD, Leader of the Independent Team of Ministers and Minister for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rails and Ports, has today welcomed the successful passage of the Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Bill 2024 through Seanad Éireann.
Minister Canney, who brought the legislation through the Seanad this afternoon, said he was “delighted to advance this important Bill which will ensure that access to cash remains a viable, secure, and inclusive option for all citizens—particularly those in rural areas, older people, and those who rely on cash as a means of financial independence.”
The legislation places statutory obligations on designated financial institutions to maintain access to cash infrastructure at a regional level, setting criteria such as the number of ATMs per 100,000 people and a specified percentage of the population that must be within a distance of no less than 5km and no more than 10km of an ATM and a cash service point (either a bank branch or post office).
Minister Canney highlighted the Bill’s robust framework for addressing gaps in service, stating: “This Bill gives the Central Bank new powers to identify and respond to local deficiencies in cash access, ensuring that no community is left behind as the financial landscape evolves. Importantly, it also introduces oversight for ATM operators and cash-in-transit providers, bringing much-needed resilience to the system.”
The legislation contains provisions for the access to cash criteria to be reviewed in tandem with updated census figures – if cash demand drops by more than 15% in a calendar year compared to the preceding year, or on request of the Minister for Finance while the Central Bank may also undertake a review of its own initiative at any time.
However the Minister said any such reviews must be carried out in consultation with community-based organisations to understand their true impact.
“Any changes to the cash infrastructure must be done in genuine consultation with groups like Irish Rural Link, who are deeply embedded in the communities most affected. Their insight will be vital to ensuring equitable and effective outcomes.”
The Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Bill also includes provisions for banning or capping ATM access fees if they risk impairing financial inclusion. It further empowers the Central Bank to oversee service standards and ensure transparency by publishing data on ATM and cash service point availability.
Minister Canney concluded: “Access to cash is a cornerstone of financial inclusion, and this Bill secures that right into the future. I’m proud to have played a part in its development and passage through the Oireachtas.”
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