Skip to main content
Normal View

Social Welfare Overpayments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020

Tuesday, 28 July 2020

Questions (624)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

624. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 741 of 14 July 2020, if a person (details supplied) actually received funds incorrectly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18913/20]

View answer

Written answers

The Department has reviewed this matter and there is no indication that anyone other than the person concerned collected these payments and this issue was not raised by her at that time. The contention that someone else collected the payment has not been raised as an issue up to now and was not raised in any of two previous correspondences.

Where a payment is made at a post office, as in this case, the customers signature would have been required in order to cash their child benefit payments.  As this matter happened some 14 years ago too much time has elapsed for the Department to investigate this matter in any further detail.   

An overpayment arose in this case as the person concerned continued to collect child benefit payments in respect of a child that no longer resided in their household. Another qualified third party applied for child benefit for this child and following enquiries was awarded the payment.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Top
Share