Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is not only the €200 payment. As I said, we also have a community welfare system. In individual cases that do not fit the norm, community welfare officers provide support that may be needed for a time, including to meet exceptional needs.

I outlined many interventions the Government has made since the budget. A record budget has been provided to the Department of Social Protection for 2022. An additional €500 million package was announced in February to mitigate the cost of living. We also had a cut in excise duty yesterday. This is the response of a Government acutely aware of the challenges that people are facing and working to support them in every way it can. In individual cases such as the one the Deputy outlined, measures are in place to have them looked at on a case-by-case basis.

The Government will not be found wanting in supporting people. We know the pressure people are experiencing. I outlined many of the supports in place. The Department of Social Protection provides a number of more targeted payments to help people with their household costs. These include the fuel allowance, the living alone allowance, the telephone support allowance and, in particular, exceptional and urgent needs payments as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need they cannot meet from their own resources, as the Deputy outlined. The Government will support people at this difficult time.

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