Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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283. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position in regard to the restoration of payment and arrears due in respect of a jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46420/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned was notified by my Department on the 15th of August 2018 that they had a debt of €198.00.  The correspondence stipulated to the person concerned that this debt would be recovered by a reduction in their weekly payment of 15% of his personal rate and that the deductions would begin 3 weeks from the date of the letter. 

The person concerned was afforded the opportunity to comment on the method of payment or to advise the Department of any facts or circumstances which were relevant to the repayment. 

The customer concerned repaid the debt in full over a 7 week period, and has been in receipt of his full entitlement of €198.00 per week since October 24th.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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284. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the action which can be taken to ensure an appropriate payment in accordance with their entitlement is made in the case of a person (details supplied); the last occasion they were in receipt of a weekly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46425/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned was last paid a weekly Jobseeker's Allowance on 13^thDecember 2016 and last paid a weekly Supplementary Welfare Allowance on 6th September 2017. She has appealed the decisions to disallow both payments and the appeal process is currently underway. In the meantime, she has received a number of Exceptional Needs Payments, including on four occasions during October 2018.

In light of the concerns raised by the Deputy, I have made arrangements for an officer of the Department to call out to see the customer as a matter of urgency.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.