Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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239. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason the gap in social protection payments has not been restored in the case of a person (details supplied); when all outstanding arrears will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40764/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The details of this case have been explained in replies to several Parliamentary Questions; most recently in questions 36185 and 32749-16. The current question contains the assertion that the person concerned retained an entitlement to a jobseekers allowance payment following the decision of the Appeals Officer to disallow his claim.

However, there has been no claim made to the Department in respect of the period involved from when he was disallowed jobseekers allowance at an address in Kildare, subsequently upheld on Appeal, and him making a new claim for jobseekers allowance at the family home in Dublin 15.

Therefore, as there has been no claim to investigate for this period the question of a supposed continuing entitlement cannot be decided upon. However, as previously advised in earlier replies, he is free to present any additional or new evidence in relation to the decision to the decision of the Appeals Office whereupon the Department may consider a revised decision or referring the matter for the attention of the Appeals Office. Similarly, any additional or new evidence in respect of the decision to award him jobseekers allowance since May 2016 should be brought to the attention of the Department for appropriate consideration.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.