Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. This is a very difficult case. Even though the person was overpaid and our office notified the Department that the person was getting the incorrect payment, nothing was done. The person then received a number of payments, very few of which were correct. The person then received a payment with a 15% deduction because the Department claims that €800 was overpaid.

I accept that this money has to be repaid, but the Department should at least contact the people regarding the overpayments and the fact that it needs to deduct the money. What has happened is very unfair. The least the Department could do is contact those involved. We are talking about vulnerable people who are sick. They would work if they were able to do so but, unfortunately, they cannot. They are getting back their own money. It is wrong to treat people like that. They are the most vulnerable individuals who would normally work but who cannot do so as a result of health problems.

This is not the only case and many other families are finding it very difficult. I do not want to blame staff or anything of that nature. The system is not working. Somebody needs to take control of it in order to ensure that these vulnerable people are paid the money to which they are entitled because of their sickness.

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