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Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020

Tuesday, 8 September 2020

Questions (655)

Patrick Costello

Question:

655. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which information was obtained from recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment at airports by date on which each case was interviewed by Departmental staff and by airport; the date on which each payment was ceased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21156/20]

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Written answers

All social welfare schemes are subject to control and compliance checks in order to ensure that the Exchequer resources provided for those schemes are protected. The pandemic unemployment payment scheme is subject to conditionality, in particular the requirement to be resident in Ireland to receive the payment under the scheme.

Under the provisions of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, social welfare inspectors have powers to attend at ports and airports and make enquiries for the purposes of the control of social welfare schemes. They may make enquiries of persons if they have reasonable grounds to believe that there may have been a contravention of the 2005 Act, in relation to welfare payments where entitlement ceases when a person leaves the State.

Between 16th April and 16th July 2020, inspectors made enquiries, as provided for in the 2005 Act, of almost 10,000 passengers at ports and airports. The majority of these checks were done in Dublin airport. The dates on which each person was interviewed and the dates of any consequent cessation of payment are not readily available.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 656 answered with Question No. 639.
Question No. 657 answered with Question No. 639.
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