The vast majority of Irish people think cash payment should remain an option when procuring goods and services, with widespread support for proposed legislation to protect the right to access cash.

The latest Taxback.com taxpayer sentiment survey, which polled over 1,200 people nationwide, found 95% believe that everyone should have the choice to pay in either cash or card as society becomes increasingly cashless.

The Reasonable Access to Cash bill has been tabled following a recommendation in the recent Retail Banking Review and the backlash to AIB's quickly-scrapped decision to remove cash services from 70 branches.

The review also called for the development of a National Payments Strategy to take in accounts advanced in digital payments, and guide how future changes should be made around access to cash criteria and other issues.

The strategy could see laws around reasonable access to cash extended to other sectors, thereby requiring shops, cafés and other outlets to accept cash payments, rather than insisting on card payment.

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The survey found that 40% would support the proposed law as they would like the option to pay in cash and card, while 18% would support such a law as they usually pay in cash.

One in 10 (9%) said they would support it as they believe elderly people will benefit; 28% think the law would be useful, even though they themselves only pay by card; and 5% wouldn’t support the planned legislation, stating that they believe it would be a backward step.

“The pandemic has accelerated the use of digital payments – as have the increased moves by the banks to curtail access to cash banking services," said Marian Ryan, consumer tax manager with Taxback.com.

"While many people have embraced card payments, Irish people are in almost full agreement that having the choice to pay in cash or card and the ability to access cash when it is needed should be a fundamental right.

"Otherwise, we risk ostracising people. There will be some people who simply will not be able to buy items or services which they badly need – simply because they don’t have card or cash on them.

"Some people struggle with online and card payments and find it incredibly difficult to manage their finances as a result of the increased moves towards digital banking and payments. This is simply unfair and borders on ostracism.”

Contactless payments of nearly €4.8bn were made in the third quarter, according to the latest BPFI figures, an increase of 25.8% year-on-year while cheque volumes dropped 7.3% to an all-time low of 4.5m.

Central Bank statistics show that the value of ATM withdrawals fell 2% year-on-year in December to €1.2bn as total spending rose 10% to €9.3bn . Points of service spending totalled €8bn, €3.5bn of which was online, an increase of 16% from December 2021.

One of the primary aims of the ill is to force banks offer customers “reasonable access to cash” which could include having a minimum number of cashpoints per town or region.

“In recent years, banks have restricted and withdrawn many over-the-counter cash services in their branches – making it increasingly difficult for customers to manage their day-to-day banking," Ryan said.

"Many bank customers have had to travel lengthy distances to cash cheques or withdraw cash as a result – particularly in rural areas.”

(Pic: Getty Images)