Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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405. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the criteria in relation to entitlements and social protection payments when a person resides outside the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34957/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Social Protection operates a wide range of schemes and the criteria for paying these outside the State vary according to a number of factors such as the duration of absence from the state, whether it’s a contributory or non-contributory payment, nationality (EU v Non EU) and the other conditions of payment, such as whether the person is required to be available for work.

As the circumstances of each case vary so much, it would be impossible to cover all eventualities in this answer. However any customer considering going abroad should contact the area of the Department paying them for more detailed information specific to their case. Contact details for all Department of Social Protection schemes may be found at