Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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201. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason it is deemed that a person (details supplied) received a PUP payment irregularly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38454/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced in 2020 to provide support to people who had lost their employment due to the public health restrictions introduced in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Under Section 68L (1) (d) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended), PUP is not payable where a person is engaged in insurable employment, that is, works as an employee.

My Department has conducted an extensive analysis of Pandemic Unemployment Payments in the period since 5th August 2020 and has cross checked payments against payroll records from employers submitted to the Revenue Commissioners. The information available to my Department indicates that the person concerned was in receipt of an employment income for 17 weeks whilst concurrently in receipt of PUP. This resulted in a total PUP overpayment of €6,100. An administrative disregard of €1750 has been applied, resulting in a net overpayment of €4,350.

If the person concerned is not satisfied with this decision, he can seek a review by writing to the Deciding Officer with additional documentary evidence detailing why he considers the decision is incorrect. It is also open to the person to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). The SWAO functions independently of my Department and Appeals Officers are independent in their decision-making functions.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.