Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is no legislation pending on the particular matter raised by Deputy Healy-Rae. Ordinarily, social welfare payments are paid only to those who are habitually resident in the State. However, if people are absent from the State for a short period of time, it can be possible to continue those payments. If the Deputy would like to give me the details of the particular case to which he refers, I will examine them. If legislation is needed to facilitate a change for legitimate purposes, that could be considered as part of the social welfare Bill later in the year.

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