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 wish to consult with the public and relevant stakeholder groups in relation to how we intend to implement key elements of the access to cash legislation. We want to ensure you have the opportunity to be informed on these important matters and for you to provide your feedback. The two key areas that we wish to consult 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 is 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, and we are very interested in receiving your feedback. It is important that we hear a wide range of views so that we can implement these provisions in a balanced and proportionate manner.

As part of this access to cash consultation, we have published a Local Deficiency Consultation Paper (CP163) (PDF 561.33KB) and a Requirements for ATM Operators Consultation Paper (CP164) (PDF 694.28KB).

There will be a period of open public consultation on each of these papers from 5 December 2025 until 4 March 2026. 

We welcome your feedback on one or both parts of the consultation and you can provide this feedback in a single response if you wish. Email your feedback to [email protected] (with the subject line “Access to Cash consultation submission”). We also welcome submissions in writing to Central Bank of Ireland, PO Box 559, Dublin 1.