Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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230. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 781 of 9 April 2024, the number of payments stopped where her Department was made aware of an international protection applicant travelling out of the State for the period 2010 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17119/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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International Protection Applicants are not permitted to leave Ireland without the permission of the Minister of Justice.

Any impact on a payment in respect of absence from the State depends on the conditions of the underlying scheme. Some social welfare payments, mainly contributory pensions and long-term benefits payable under the social insurance fund, are payable while the recipient is absent from the State. Other, mainly short-term and means tested payments, may be payable in respect of periods a person is temporarily absent from the State for up to two weeks subject to the qualifying conditions continuing to be met.

International Protection Applicants who reside in, or are waiting for, accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Services, receive the Daily Expenses Allowance in order to meet incidental, personal expenses. Those who are in employment have access to Working Family Payment and some may qualify for benefit schemes linked to PRSI contributions if they are working for a sufficient period of time.

Where my department is made aware of an International Protection Applicant in receipt of a payment, travelling out of the State, their payment is stopped where applicable.

My department does not collate specific statistics on the number of payments stopped, due to an International Protection Applicant travelling out of the State, therefore these figures are not available.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.