Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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149. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the detail of the gap that exists in respect of jobseeker's allowance in the past 18 months in the case of a person (details supplied); the number of payments refused on the basis of not living at Celbridge, County Kildare; the payment the person received during that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2246/17]

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, 32749 & 40764-16.

As previously outlined, his claim for jobseekers allowance from an address in Co Kildare was disallowed, a decision he appealed and lost, in July 2015. He subsequently claimed jobseekers allowance from the family home in May 2016 and this claim was awarded from that date and is in payment since. These dates represent the gap between two discrete claims for jobseekers allowance.

As has been pointed out in previous replies there has been no claim made to the Department in respect of the period involved from when he was disallowed jobseekers allowance at the Kildare address and him making a new claim for jobseekers allowance at the family home in Dublin 15. As there was no claim made for this period there is no question of payments being refused during this period between discrete claims.

However, as previously advised in earlier replies, he is free to present any additional or new evidence in relation 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.