Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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367. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of first-time pandemic unemployment payment overpayment letters that were issued in Q3 and Q4 2025; the reason these were issued now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67489/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced on March 16th, 2020, as a social welfare payment for employees and self-employed people who lost all their employment because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The level of income supports provided was unprecedented in terms of volume and speed of response. Almost 942,000 individuals applied for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment indicating the unprecedented disruption which the Covid-19 pandemic caused to the labour market and society generally. The total scheme expenditure amounted to €9.1 billion over the period 2020 – 2022.

My Department has cross checked almost 30 million PUP payments week by week against Revenue records. Approximately 65,000 PUP customers were identified where there is an apparent overlap between PUP payment records and employer payroll returns to the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revenue).

Approximately 13,800 letters in total have issued in Q3 and Q4 2025 to people who have an apparent overlap between PUP payment records and employer payroll returns.

A project team is working to follow up all cases and where overpayments are assessed these will be pursued for full repayment.

When contacted about their overpayment, people are given the opportunity to provide clarification on the matter and/or submit relevant information. People are also advised of their right to seek a review of the overpayment decision and their right to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, which operates independently of my Department. In addition, people are informed of the range of options available to them in repaying the debt, including instalment plans, direct debit, standing order or by cheque. People also have the option of repaying their debt online if they have a MyGovID account.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.