Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The exceptional needs payment and the urgent needs payment are available. They are their demand-led schemes, and if people run into difficulties, they are encouraged to apply for that payment. I have been trying to highlight it. We have introduced a number of measures to help alleviate some of the rising costs, as the Deputy has acknowledged. Nobody is excluded from applying for this payment if he or she needs it. We should be making people aware that support is available. That is the State's safety net for people who hit hard times and cannot pay their bills. I encourage anyone in difficulty to go to his or her community welfare office. We are here to help. It is important that people do that and are aware of that.

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