John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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100. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a carer's allowance and the respite grant will be immediately paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if she will review the case of overpayment. [44930/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Firstly, on behalf of myself and the Department, I would like to offer the person in question our sincere sympathies on her bereavement.

Carer’s allowance (CA) was awarded to the person concerned on 13 August 2015 and was awarded for the period 4 June 2015 to 2 September 2015. This covers 6 weeks payment after the death of the person being cared for and the Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) formerly known as the Respite Care Grant.

However, the person concerned has an outstanding One-Parent Family Payment debt amounting to €8,376.04. It is the Department’s policy to seek recover of all debts due and can withhold payments due to reduce the amount outstanding.

The Department has previously sought recovery from the person concerned in 2013 and 2014 but she failed to offer a method of recovery.

Now that she has requalified for payment, arrears of CA and CSG are being withheld to reduce her debt. Pending further enquiries in relation to the information you have provided, the Department has been agreed to release 50% of CA arrears. Arrangements will now be made to pay this as soon as possible.