42. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to increasing the amount of time that an individual in receipt of disability allowance can spend outside the State from two weeks per year; and if consideration has been given to the level of surveillance and collection of personal data that is involved when a disability allowance recipient travels outside of the State. [67605/26]

Disability Allowance (DA) is a means-tested payment for people with a specified disability whose income falls below certain limits and who are aged between 16 and are under 66.  This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to medical assessment, means test and habitual residency conditions.

In order to receive DA a person must be resident in the State and this is provided for in Social welfare legislation.  Payment of DA may only continue while outside the state in certain specific and exceptional circumstances and this is done on an administrative basis.  One of these circumstances is where a person is in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance and part of their course of study takes place abroad.  Another is where a person is receiving medical treatment abroad which is not available within the State and where that treatment is approved by the Health Services Executive (HSE).

Where it is the case that the claimant is leaving the State for a holiday, DA is only payable for a maximum of 2 weeks in a calendar year.  Periods longer than that can result in the suspension of payment, which will only recommence from the date of return and when the travel itinerary has been received.  It should be noted that while it is custom and practice to allow limited exceptions for travel from disallowance, in the case of DA there is no legislative basis for these exceptions.

I am not currently considering extending the period during which a person in receipt of Disability Allowance may be absent from the State while retaining entitlement to payment.  Any change to these arrangements would require careful consideration of the policy and financial implications involved.

With regards to travel verification, the Department may seek evidence of travel, such as a boarding pass or travel itinerary, solely for the purpose of establishing the dates on which a person was outside the State and determining their continued entitlement to payment.  The information requested is limited to that required to administer the scheme and ensure that payments are made in accordance with the legislative provisions.  Documentation provided is retained in line with the Department's records management and data protection obligations.

I am satisfied that the information sought by the Department is proportionate to the administration of the scheme and that appropriate safeguards are in place regarding the collection, use and retention of personal data.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.