New protections on access to ATMs welcomed as over-reliance on digital payments is dangerous

Sat, 05 Apr, 2025 - 21:03

Eva Osborne

New legal protections on access to ATMs are being welcomed as an important step in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn.

A new bill passed through the Dáil this week, which would ensure a specified percentage of the population must be within no less than five kilometres, and no more than 10 kilometres away, from a cash machine.

Independent Ireland is among those who have been campaigning for the right to access and use cash to be protected.

Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice said an over-reliance on digital payments is dangerous.

Speaking on NewsTalk, he said: "Keep everything going and parallel. No one is saying that you have to use cash, no one is saying that you have to use one or other type of currency.

"What we are saying is give the options to people. Don't be getting rid of something that we now see is a very valuable thing when all the new technology doesn't work.

"At least if you have a bit of cash in your hand, it works. You can buy food for yourself."