Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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75. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide a specific clothing allowance as an exceptional needs due to the energy and cost-of-living crises (details supplied). [59202/22]

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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Will the Minister provide a specific clothing allowance as an exceptional needs payment due to the energy and cost-of-living crises?

A constituent came to me a couple of weeks ago who was looking specifically for a clothing allowance. I sent the form in to see whether I would get a response on it. The guidance states that the "Additional Needs Payment is a payment to help you with an expense that you cannot pay from your weekly income." It goes on to state that this is for, "Food, clothing and shelter after an emergency event such as a fire or flood."

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make an additional needs payment to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from his or her weekly income. Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme. These can and do include support to assist people with clothing costs outside of emergency situations where they are unable to meet this need from their own resources. This approach provides targeted support rather than a general clothing allowance. The community welfare officer will consider all the relevant circumstances of the case to help those most in need.

From January to end of September 2022, more than 27,000 additional needs payments with a combined value of more than €3.9 million were made to help people with the cost of clothing. The majority of these payments were made to those arriving from Ukraine.

My Department also provides a back to school clothing and footwear allowance to eligible families to assist with the cost of clothing and footwear when children return to school each autumn. This year, the allowance was increased by a further €100 for each eligible child under the scheme. The total amount paid for each qualified child aged from four to 11 was €260 and the rate payable for each eligible child aged 12 and over was €385. More than 157,000 families have benefited from this measure in 2022, providing assistance with the cost of clothing and footwear to almost 273,000 children.

I do not consider that there is a need to introduce a specific clothing allowance given the supports already provided to assist with meeting the current cost-of-living challenges, and access to the additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income.

I encourage any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment to contact their local community welfare service for assistance. There is a national community welfare contact centre in place that will direct callers to the appropriate office.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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I thank the Minister. The information on the additional needs payment gives a list of who can get the payment. The guidance states:

You can get the Additional Needs Payment to help you with an expense that you cannot pay from your weekly income. For example: - An increase in your fuel or electricity costs

- Essential repairs to property, including motor vehicles ...

- Funeral costs

- Deposits for private rented accommodation

- Bedding and cooking utensils, if you are setting up home for the first time

- Food, clothing and shelter after an emergency event such as a fire or flood

- Recurring travel costs to hospital

- Visiting a relative in hospital or prison

That confuses people. They say they cannot apply for a specific clothing allowance under those criteria. That is why I am raising the issue. It should also be specifically for a clothing allowance and specifically with regard to the cost of living. It is definitely something that should be looked at from that point of view. If a person can apply for it and not have to go to a CWO, it would be better for that person to be able to apply for it officially through those channels. I know the Minister said there is a little discretion but I still think that people are very confused when reading that.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I asked about this and was told that clothes are included in the one we have. I take the Deputy's point, however.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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That is not what it states.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I take the Deputy's point; she read it out to me. What I have written here is, "food, clothing or shelter in the aftermath of a fire or flood or other emergency event." I take her point and I will raise it with the officials. The CWOs have discretion.

If the Deputy wants to give me the specific details of the case of that lady who did not get that payment, I am happy to take them. I will raise the issue myself because I do not know the circumstances or particular details of that case. The Deputy can give the details to me, however, and I will be happy to follow it up for her.