Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

605. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who is receiving maternity benefit and who incurred an overpayment on their claim is now being deducted at a rate of 15%, in view of engagement made with her Department to establish a suitable method of recovery by way of establishing a payment plan. [4365/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The person concerned is aware that maternity benefit and one parent family payment are not fully payable together and consequently she has an overpayment due for recovery by the Department. She was informed that 15% of her weekly payment (the Departmental standard rate that can apply to the repayment of debt without a person’s consent) would be deducted for this purpose. She was also advised to supply any further relevant information in relation to the debt and its repayment when this rate was applied.

The person concerned has recently been in contact through her local representative and as a result of this contact the repayment applied to this overpayment has been adjusted to €10.00 per week from 18 January 2018.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.