Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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887. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of officials by grade from her Department that are located at entry and or exit ports and airports here; the number and value of sanctions imposed by her Department on persons in receipt of a social protection payment for leaving the State without informing her Department; the number of these that were upheld and the value of same on appeal; if she will provide a schedule of the types of payments that are subject to sanctions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20906/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Since 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. 

The number of inspectors attending the ports and airports can vary from day to day.  Typically, at Dublin airport, there will be six inspectors carrying out this work while, in Dublin Port, we operate with one to two inspectors. In Rosslare, between three and four inspectors will be engaged in this work while, in Ringaskiddy, we operate with four inspectors. 

In addition to the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP), any other social welfare payment that is not payable outside the State is subject to review where a person is found to be leaving the State. This includes jobseekers payments, working family payment, illness-related payments, carers allowance, supplementary welfare allowance and one parent family payments. 

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, the Department has 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. The 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.