John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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538. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 553 of 13 November 2018, if the payment will be disregarded in the means test for social welfare payments for those that were in receipt of a payment before she approved disregarding it in view of the fact the payment is still being taken as means from social welfare payments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10382/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Northern Ireland Victims and Survivors Service delivers funding and support to survivors of the Conflict / Troubles on behalf of the Executive Office of Northern Ireland.  They have remit to assist all victims and survivors identified in the Victims and Survivors (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, providing support to those who have been injured (physically or psychologically), those who care for people who have been injured, and those who have been bereaved by the Conflict / Troubles.

I have recently approved the introduction of a disregard for payments from Northern Ireland Victims & Survivors Service for social welfare means testing purposes, and I was pleased to sign Regulations to this effect on December 21 2018, with the disregard being effective from this date.

My officials have been in contact with the Deputy about the specific case he raised and the claimant in question has since had their means reassessed in line with the disregard.