Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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365. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the circumstances whereby a debt arising from overpayment incurred 13 years ago is now deemed to be recoverable, notwithstanding an indication at the time that in the circumstances recovery would not take place in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32581/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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An overpayment was incurred by this client and notified to her in April 2003 which became the subject of an appeal that was disallowed in June 2004. The client made application for a further Social Welfare payment in March 2003. The overpayment was not adjudicated on at the point and was therefore not applied at that time. There is no record on file to suggest that the recovery of the overpayment would not proceed as normal. The Department has the right to pursue all debt irrespective of the date the debt occurred or the actions (communications or recoveries) taken by the Department since the debt arose. This Department can always recover a debt from future benefits/payments a debtor may become entitled to up to pension age and thereafter from any remaining Estate following death of a debtor.