Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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378. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has made allowances for the hardship faced by homeless families who are refused social welfare; if she has made emergency provisions for such families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32712/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is considered the "safety net" within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. The Department’s role with regard to persons who are homeless is mainly income maintenance. Under the social welfare system, homeless people have entitlements to the full range of social welfare schemes, including SWA subject to the normal qualifying conditions.

Under the SWA scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Assistance through ENPs may be provided towards rent deposits. This form of assistance is very important to those on low incomes who are at risk of, or who are homeless, or who rely on the private rented market to meet their housing needs. If the Deputy has a particular case where homeless families have been refused social welfare they should forward details to the Department for follow up.