Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

On the finer points of the drafting of the Bill and the definition of "detention" to which the Deputy referred earlier, the Department will respond to the Deputy once clarification is sought from those who drafted the Bill.

As regards the release of prisoners, it is my understanding the reason for the four-week period is to allow for the spouse to return to the family home on release from prison. The four-week period is a transition period and is a supportive strategy. Where the spouse does not return to the family home, the payment will continue on the basis of the normal assessment in assessing any individual lone parent payment application or claim.

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