Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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196. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a one parent family overpayment occurred for a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that the person informed his Department prior to taking up new employment on 12 December 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21030/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The one-parent family payment (OFP) is a payment for both men and women aged under 66 years who are bringing up a child or children without the support of a partner. To qualify for an OFP payment a person must meet the conditions of the scheme as set down in legislation and they must satisfy a means test.

The OFP overpayment in this instance occurred due to an increase in the means of the person concerned who commenced a new employment with increased income on 12th December 2016. The Department was notified of this new employment by the Revenue Commissioners in February 2017. There is no record of an earlier notification of this new employment.

As the person concerned received monies in excess of those due to her, an overpayment arose and she was notified of this early March 2017. The overpayment was being recovered at the maximum amount of 15% of the weekly OFP personal rate. However, following discussions between the person concerned and the INTREO office in Buncrana an agreement has been made for a lower repayment rate with the recovery of the overpayment now spread over a longer period.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.