Access to Cash Consultation Papers

The Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Act 2025 provides for the continued provision of sufficient and effective access to cash infrastructure for individuals and small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ireland. The legislation, which commenced with effect from 30 June 2025, grants new powers to the Central Bank to oversee compliance by certain firms with their responsibilities under the Act.

We have consulted with the public and relevant stakeholder groups in relation to how we intend to implement key elements of the access to cash legislation. The two key areas that we consulted on are:

  1. Local Deficiency
    This legislation recognises that certain areas could have particular difficulties, which limit access to cash infrastructure for individuals or SMEs. The Central Bank can determine, either itself or based on a notification made by a member of the public or an SME, that a local deficiency exists after we consider a range of matters set out in the legislation. The Central Bank is required to publish guidelines on how it will implement a local deficiency framework.

  2. Requirements for ATM Operators
    The Central Bank is required to introduce requirements (through regulations) for firms who own and operate ATMs. These requirements will relate to service standards for the operation of ATMs and notification requirements by these firms.

This was an opportunity for members of the public and key stakeholders to have a say in how these important elements of the legislation will be implemented.  We will now review all feedback received through engagement and written submissions and consider if changes or clarifications to the original proposals are required.

As part of our Word on the Street video series, we recently asked members of the public about how they access cash in their locality. The shared perspectives highlight the lived experiences of people as they go about their daily lives.

Participant 1: Well, now I'm up here today, I'll take some out because I am a cash person. I use...I try to use cash for everything.

Participant 2: I have a small business, so I have a bit of cash coming in, not an awful lot, but that's basically how I get it, the hole in the wall.

Participant 3: So I live, I live close to a post office and it's very handy so usually the post office or the ATM or even through a cash back, you know, from retailers.

Participant 4: I don't really take out cash, I use my phone.

Participant 5: I don't use cash I never use cash, but if I was to use cash, I would use a local ATM but that’s very, very, very rare.

Participant 6: Yeah, I live in town center, so I have tons of banks around and I can easily go there and withdraw.

Participant 7: Cash, ATMs, but like, you know, these ones here, there used to be one there they're kind of disappearing at a rapid rate.

Participant 8: I carry very little cash, like neither of us carry that much cash, we’re both paid through the bank so it's usually just through ATMs and stuff but a lot of the time, we just use cards.

Participant 9: Machine, that's where I’m going, up to use the machine.

It is important that we can implement the provisions of the access to cash legislation in a balanced and proportionate manner.

Our access to cash consultation included the following Consultation Papers:

CP163 Access to Cash Consultation on Local Deficiency Guidelines | pdf 562 KB CP164 - Access to Cash Requirements for ATM Operators Consultation | pdf 695 KB

Our public consultation is now closed.

The period of open public consultation on each of these papers ran from 5 December 2025 until 4 March 2026. 

Find out more about the Central Bank’s role in ensuring sufficient and effective access to cash infrastructure for individuals and SMEs in Ireland.