Written answers

Thursday, 30 July 2020

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Inspections

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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850. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of inspections that have been carried out in airports and ports here to enforce a ban on holiday travel abroad during the Covid-19 crisis; and the number of persons that have had their social welfare payments cut as a result up to 27 July 2020. [20093/20]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Since June 2012, the Department's social welfare inspectors have been undertaking control checks at airports and ports. Section 250 (16) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, provides the legal basis for these checks. 

While the number of checks has increased significantly in recent months, since the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), this reflects the very different control environment that my Department has been operating in, with large numbers of people leaving the country from mid-March due to lock-down measures imposed from the Covid pandemic.

As I announced in the Dáil yesterday, I have directed my Department to review all cases to date where people went on holidays and had their payment stopped. Last evening, my officials completed the review of the 2,500 PUP cases where the payment was stopped for travelling abroad.  This review has identified some 85 cases that have the potential to be entitled to PUP for a holiday period.  My Department will be contacting the 85 individuals in the coming days to verify these cases. 

I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Photo of Cormac DevlinCormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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851. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the arrangements involving the transfer of passenger data between airports and ports and her Department; the legislative basis of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20128/20]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department does not have data sharing arrangements with any airports or ports.  It does not have access to travel data and nor does it have access to travel locator forms.

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