THE CENTRAL BANK has launched a map showing the location of every ATM and cash point across the country. 

Customers will also have the option to notify the institution if there is a lack of access to cash services in their area.

The new initiative is in response to the Access for Cash legislation that came into effect last year. The bill requires that the majority of the population should be within a 10km radius from a cash machine.

Launched by minister for finance, Simon Harris, the bill also made it mandatory for the Central Bank to be aware of insufficient ATM services. 

There are currently around 4,000 ATMs and 1,200 cash points available across the country. However, there may be problems with cash access at a local level with bigger branches ceasing operations in some towns.

Western towns such as Ballygar Co. Galway and Strokestown Co. Roscommon experienced bank closures, forcing locals to travel to neighbouring towns. 

The Central Bank website provides a map of all cash points but also has a notification system where the public can alert to areas lacking adequate services. The Central Bank will then review all notifications and contact the relevant authorities.

Deputy Governor, Vasileois Madouros, said that the new initiative “represents an important milestone in our role in implementing the access to cash legislation”.

Card and contactless payments remain the most popular choice for Irish consumers. Yet Madouros also highlights the importance of sufficient cash services.

The implementation of the new system “is a further step towards safeguarding sufficient and effective access to cash across Ireland”, he said.