Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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86. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will reconsider setting up a cost-of-living hardship fund to be distributed by community welfare officers in the community and accessible by families and persons who are deeply affected by the cost-of-living increases in food, medical bills, essential clothing and back-to-school costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34877/22]

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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I ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reconsider setting up a cost-of-living hardship fund to be distributed by community welfare officers in the community and accessible by families and persons who are deeply affected by the cost-of-living increases in food, medical bills, essential clothing and back-to-school costs. I ask her to make a statement on the matter.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government is acutely aware of recent price increases and their impact on low-income households and those who are dependent on social welfare. For this reason, the Government did not await a further budget cycle to address these challenges but acted early. Overall, the tax and spending measures we have introduced to ease the burden and provide support to those most in need have amounted to €2.4 billion.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from his or her weekly income. Also, under this scheme, a supplement can be awarded to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the person's own resources and are deemed to be necessary. The Government has provided €45.75 million for these payments in 2022. A further provision of €5.3 million has been provided for supplementary welfare allowance payments in 2022, excluding rent supplement. This is the cost-of-living hardship fund. This is a demand-led scheme with no budget cap.

Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. The main items eligible for assistance include help with fuel, utility bills, repairs to or replacement of household appliances, clothing, child-related items such as cots and prams, assistance with funerals or burial costs and travel. Support is also available to assist persons under this scheme towards rent deposits.

In addition, the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance scheme operates from June to September each year and provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. Recently, I announced that an additional €100 will be paid in respect of each eligible child for 2022. This measure will have an immediate impact on families who are most in need of assistance at this time.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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I accept what the Minister said about the availability of hardship fund with no limit. When I was first active in politics as a councillor, we worked very closely with the community welfare officers in the area. There was one in the health centre in Crumlin and one in Curlew Road health centre in Drimnagh, as well as others in Parnell Road and Walkinstown. People approaching me would be able to work very well with community welfare officers and let the person know where to go, etc. They were taken out of the community during the austerity years of 2011 and 2012, which was a mistake. They were introduced in the 1980s or 1990s by a Labour Party Minister - I cannot remember his name - because of the need to be close to people in the community.

As Deputy Kerrane said, some people are in a rural community and do not have enough money. In some cases, the partner may be spending the money on drink or gambling. Someone like that with two young kids will not be able to get to an Intreo office. Will the Minister consider introducing a pilot scheme to bring the fund into the community to see how it would impact, particularly in rural areas?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am very aware of the importance of people having access to the community welfare officers. That is why we have had a very comprehensive media advertising campaign to make people aware that this payment is available. I have run radio and social media advertisements. I am sure the Deputy has heard them. We want to raise awareness and get the message out through our constituency offices. I would appreciate the help of Deputies in this House in helping to get the message out also. People affected by the current cost-of-living crisis may be accessing these payments for the first time. They might never have dealt with the Department of Social protection previously. I want to try to make things as easy as possible for them. That is why we have established a national helpline. The number is 0818 607080. Most people have access to a phone in this day and age. People should ring that number first. They will be dealt with confidentially. They will be directed to a point of contact in their local office who will look after them. People can download the application form from the website at gov.ie. They can complete it and post it in. It will be processed quickly.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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I heard the media campaign which I welcome. I am sure it will have an impact when we get to see the figures for the past month or so. Obviously, the number of people looking for additional needs payments increased because of the cost-of-living increase and not because of the media campaign because the increase happened before the campaign. We should have a specific pilot scheme in a rural area and put a community welfare officer into the community to see how that impacts for people in the area. It is impossible for someone with no money who is in despair and in crisis to walk from a rural area to the city. Having community welfare officers in the community would allow them to know who is who and what the needs are. They would get to know the community in the area. That has been really badly missed in the community since the community welfare officer was pulled out into the Intreo offices. That has been my experience as a councillor and a Deputy.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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We have community welfare offices in the 51 Intreo centres throughout the country. They talk to the people over the phone. They can meet them in the local branch office. They can even arrange to meet people in their own homes by appointment if that is what people need. We are also considering setting up a system where people can apply directly for additional needs payment online. As the Deputy knows, some people want face-to-face contact. They might need some help completing a form. Others would rather submit the form directly online. We are trying to give people as many options as possible. We are creating awareness and letting people know that the Department of Social Protection is here to help. Our primary function is to help people when they need it and allow them to get over the difficulties they are facing. To be fair, I do not think there are any more media I can use to allow people access to the community welfare officer. Obviously, I will continue to monitor the situation.