Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1992

Vol. 421 No. 8

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefit.

William Cotter

Question:

229 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan who was in receipt of a supplement from the health board towards the cost of accommodation for herself and her child and whose supplement has now been withdrawn; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that (1) it was discovered that she had unlawfully collected sums of money from the health board over a period of time and (2) the correct procedure in this case would be that the supplement be restored and that the person be required to make weekly affordable repayments to the health board and the amount of such repayments to be decided by the courts if necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

The person in question was in receipt of unemployment assistance and supplementary welfare allowance, including a weekly rent supplement, concurrently, while awaiting determination of her application for lone parent's allowance. This resulted in an overpayment to the person concerned of £964 which is recoverable from her.

It is understood from the North-Eastern Health Board, who are responsible for the administration of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in County Monaghan, that when the overpayment came to light the person in question agreed to forego her rent supplement until such time as the overpayment was cleared. She subsequently withdrew this agreement. The health board will contact her with a view to devising suitable arrangements to recover the amount due. In the meantime the rent supplement will be restored.