John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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579. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rationale behind the stipulation requiring disability allowance recipients to notify his Department before leaving the State; the specific function this stipulation serves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34019/25]

John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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580. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide the location within the legislation where the stipulation requiring disability allowance recipients to notify his Department before leaving the State, is detailed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34020/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 579 and 580 together.

Disability Allowance is a long-term social assistance scheme for people who are aged between 16 and 66 with an injury, disease or disability that has continued, or may be expected to continue, for at least one year and, as a result of this disability, the person is substantially restricted in undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable. In order to qualify, the person must satisfy a means test, meet the medical requirement and satisfy the habitual residency condition.

The main provisions relating to Disability Allowance are contained in Chapter 10 of Part 3 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as amended.

Social welfare legislation provides that for entitlement to Disability Allowance a person must be habitually resident in the State.

Payment can continue for the first two weeks of absence from the State in any 12-month period. All recipients are required to notify the Department of any changes in circumstance which may impact their payment. This includes plans to be absent from the State. This practices ensures that the payments are made only to people who continue to be eligible for the scheme.

I am satisfied that the current travel arrangements are appropriate. Increasing payment periods while outside the state would call into question whether a person was actually resident in the State. It would also lead to inconsistencies across other social assistance payments as to what is regarded as a “temporary absence” from the State.

Any further changes to these arrangements would have legislative implications and could only be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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581. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of times recipients of disability allowance are selected for reassessment by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34021/25]

John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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582. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the criteria used to determine the frequency of disability allowance reassessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34022/25]

John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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583. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether all disability allowance applicants are selected for reassessment on a regular basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34023/25]

John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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584. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the factors that influence the decision to reassess certain disability allowance applicants more frequently than others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34024/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 581, 582, 583 and 584 together.

My Department has a commitment to an annual level of control reviews and operates an ongoing continuous schedule of control and review activity for scheme recipients, including those in receipt of disability or pension payments. The objective is to ensure that customers continue to receive their correct rate of payment over the lifetime of their claim.

Reviews can arise from customer requests for a review of their claim, from targeted and random case selections, or where specific information comes to the attention of the Department. Factors such as length of time since last review, or where information is received from other agencies such as the Revenue Commissioners, or from members of the public, can also trigger control reviews.

On review, claimants on a means-tested payment may have their weekly payment rate unchanged or adjusted upwards or downwards as appropriate, based on their up-to-date means assessment.

People on disability-related schemes may also have their claim reviewed to ensure they continue meet the qualifying medical criteria for the scheme. However, where a Departmental Medical Assessor is of the opinion that no further review is required, no medical control review will be undertaken.

Information letters or MyWelfare notifications are regularly issued from the Disability Allowance section of my Department to a proportion of recipients, on a rolling basis, to remind them of the conditions for continuing receipt of their payment and their obligation to notify the Department of changes in their circumstances in a timely manner.

I and my Department understands the many pressures faced by people and always seeks to ensure that reviews are processed quickly and efficiently. Each decision made following a review is open to a review and/or an appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals office.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.