Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2017
728. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has been requested to reimburse her department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39831/17]
View answerCarer’s allowance (CA) was in payment to the person concerned from 11 October 2012 to 7 June 2017 in respect of one care recipient.
It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the carer is not engaged in employment or self-employment outside their home.
However, where a carer can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate provision has been made for the care of the care recipient in their absence, a carer may engage in employment, self-employment, education or training courses as long as the duration of these combined activities do not exceed 15 hours per week.
Following a review, it was decided that the person concerned was not entitled to CA from 16 June 2016 to 7 June 2017 as he was engaged in employment outside his home in excess of 15 hours per week. As a result it was determined that he had been overpaid €10,433.40 during this period.
The person concerned was notified on 16 June 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal. A breakdown of the calculation of the debt was enclosed.
The person concerned wrote to my Department on 5 August 2017 stating that he was liaising with his employers but to date no further communication has been received from him.
The Department is obliged to seek recovery of debts owed to it as quickly as possible, having due regard to the circumstances of the debtor.
Accordingly my Department’s Debt Recovery Unit wrote to the person concerned on 9 August 2017, 30 August 2017 and 12 September 2017, seeking a repayment of €100 weekly.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
