Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to focus on the exceptional needs payments area of the supplementary welfare allowance. In 2012, a figure of €52.7 million was paid out for that. While that is a significant figure, it is important to note that it has dropped consistently since 2008, under almost every heading. This is good. On the general scheme, how is the money for exceptional and urgent needs paid out?