Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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692. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when weekly payments will recommence for those social welfare recipients that would prefer weekly payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21708/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department introduced a series of measures to maintain social welfare payments while assisting with social distancing measures designed to combat the spread of the Coronavirus.

Fortnightly payments were introduced to minimise the need for people to attend and queue in banks or post offices to collect payments, so helping people restrict their movements to essential activities only. These were introduced on a ‘payment in advance’ basis so people did not have to wait two weeks for a payment.

Some welfare scheme payments have now reverted to a weekly payment pattern, including One-parent Family Payment, Working Family Payment, Illness Benefit, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Jobseeker’s Benefit.

The Department’s view is guided by the public health guidelines. Those payments, including State Pensions, which are remaining on a fortnightly payment pattern, will continue to be reviewed by the Department in line with the best available health advice.