Charlie Flanagan

The new service, developed through co-operation between the Irish Prison Service and An Post, is part of a wider drive to modernise Irish prisons and move to electronic systems.

Prisoners will be able to spend the money paid to them on items such as toiletries, cigarettes, newspapers, confectionery and magazines from the prison tuck shop.

Participating prisoners can nominate one family member to receive a “BillPay Card” in the post, which can then be brought to any of 950 post offices in the State to make a payment by cash or debit card. The service is designed to be private and confidential.

The new payment option was introduced in post offices this week and is currently being rolled out throughout the prison system.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said: “The restrictions on movements as a result of Covid-19 have been hard on all our communities but especially hard on prison families as they are further separated from their loved ones.

“The Irish Prison Service has moved quickly to introduce a number of new and innovative initiatives aimed at helping families support their loved ones who are in prison.

“The introduction of video visits, electronic money transfers and now this new An Post BillPay Card service have all allowed families to support prisoners by keeping in contact and by providing funds for use in prison tuck shops without having to travel long distances to prisons.

“I want to commend the officials in the Irish Prison Service and An Post for working together to devise this innovative solution which will not only serve families and prisoners during the current crisis but will have long-standing benefits into the future.”