Section 15 now provides health boards with the discretion to make payments in urgent cases in relation to claims for rent supplement from asylum seekers and those who are not lawfully in the State. This will ensure consistency with existing provisions in respect of other excluded categories, so that a health board will not be prevented from paying rent supplement as a result of the restrictions imposed by section 13 in circumstances which, in the opinion of the health board, are so urgent in nature that rent supplement should be paid. I emphasise that this section does not provide for exceptions that could result in payments being made in any individual case on an ongoing basis. It merely provides discretion to respond in an urgent case that will not remain urgent over time. I expect that very few, if any, payments will be made under this provision.