Irish consumers carry the highest amount of cash in Europe per capita, according to research by Visa.
Nearly €78.2 million in notes and coins is circulating in the country’s pockets every day.
The country also remained the highest user of ATMs during 2011 with €4,618 withdrawn per adult; almost twice the EU average of €2,600 and 12 times higher than Denmark, the EU’s lowest user of ATM withdrawals.
The amount withdrawn from ATMs is down from the 2010 average of €4,982. The Irish Payment Services Organisation suggested the fall was due to the increased use of debit cards.
Cardholder expenditure in Ireland rose to €13 billion in January 2011; an increase of 48 per cent on 2010.
