TOIBIN - NCT GOING CASHLESS 'A TERRIBLE DECISION'
Aontú Leader Peadar Toíbín TD has described the move by NCT to move to a cashless only payment for services as 'a terrible decison that must be reversed'."
Speaking today, the Meath West TD said:
"Cash is the most inclusive way to pay for items.
"It means that people - no matter what their age of their skill level, no matter if they've access to the internet or smartphones - that they have the ability to participate fully in society.
"Cash is recognsed to be crucial, especially for the inclusion of vulnerable citizens.
"The many older people who cant use smartphones or don't have access to the internet, for example, would have to ask their children for help or ask their neighbours for help.
"When a person is older, what we want to do is actually strengthen their autonomy, to strengthen their independence.
"By getting rid of cash, this has the opposite effect.
Deputy Tóibín said the mandatory nature of the NCT means it should be fully accessible.
"This is a service which is not a service whether people can decide to use or not," he said. "This is a mandatory service."
"If there's a State service such as that, it needs to be accessible to everybody."
Deputy Tóibín said 'sketchy' internet coverage could also be a factor.
"There are people living two or three miles outside of main towns, right across Ireland, who have difficulty in relation to this," he said.
"Transactions usually need an authentication software from a banking app... that transaction may take time - any drop in the coverage is going to prevent that authentication from happening," he added.
