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

Nobody should be going without food. The additional needs payment is available and people can apply for it. It is there to be paid out and I encourage people, if they are in any sort of difficulty such as the Deputy mentioned, to go to their community welfare officer or make a telephone call. There is an online presence as well. I do not want to hear about anybody going without food. That really should not be happening. I ask the Deputy to bring any examples to me and I will look at them personally. People should not be going without food. The additional needs payment is the State safety net and it is there for people. I would like to make them aware of that because nobody should be going without food.

We gave a €12 increase right across the board at the beginning of this year. In addition to that, taking the example of a pensioner in receipt of the fuel allowance, adding up the lump sums gives the equivalent of €45 per week over a year. That is a fair bit extra. The survey on income and living conditions data that were produced did not include the lump sum payments because the data were based on the 2021 figures. When the €12 weekly increase is added to the €45 lump sum payments, people are better off to the tune of €57 per week. They absolutely needed that money.

The budget is coming up. We have listened to stakeholders and I am very conscious that some people are in a difficult situation. We want to help them. I repeat that people should go to their community welfare officer if they are in difficulty.

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