Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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139. To ask the Minister for Social Protection why the payment day for jobseeker's allowance for some persons was changed from a Friday to a Tuesday; why some persons were only given 24-hours notice of this change; his view on whether 24-hours notice for such a change is adequate, given persons in receipt of this payment, will now have to wait an extra four days before receiving their payment, having been given no time to plan for such a delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21440/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Jobseeker clients in Swords were paid on Fridays for technical reasons. However the majority of Intreo Offices pay Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) on Tuesday, and Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) on Wednesday. The payment days for Jobseekers in Swords have been brought forward to Tuesday (JA) and Wednesday (JB) to bring them in line with other Intreo Offices.

JA customers of Swords Intreo Office who were previously paid every Friday including last Friday 8th July will now be paid every Tuesday commencing on Tuesday 12 July 2016. This week each customer will receive their payment 3 days earlier than usual.

Likewise, JB customers were paid last Friday 8th July 2016 and will be paid this coming Wednesday 13th July 2016 (2 days earlier than normal) and every Wednesday thereafter. The customers in question have all been notified by post. It was decided to send their notification letters out after they were paid last Friday 8^thJuly in order to avoid any confusion.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.