Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023

Wednesday, 20 September 2023

Questions (605)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

605. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 698 of 25 July 2023, if she will accept that a great injustice has been done in requiring the repayment to her Department of monies caused by the extraordinary requirements of the Covid crisis whereby a person (details supplied) exceeded their allowed working hours to facilitate the national response to maintain nursing care at this critical time; if she will review the decisions made by her Department in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39480/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered on the 17th July 2023. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought.

Those papers were received in this office on 8th of September 2023 and the case was referred to an Appeals Officer on the 14th of September 2023, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.