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.

Read the transcript Word on the street-How do you access cash in your locality? (PDF 95.46KB)

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:

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.