Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I am delighted to have the opportunity to reply to this Adjournment debate and to be afforded the opportunity to clarify the position on the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of my Department by the regional health authority. It provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their basic needs and those of any dependants.

Eligible people living in the State who satisfy a means test and who have applied for any other benefit, assistance or allowance to which they may be entitled, may be eligible to receive assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. Assistance may be provided in the form of a basic weekly allowance or supplements which may be paid in respect of such needs as rent, mortgage interest, special diet or heating.

The scheme also provides for exceptional needs payments which are once-off payments made where a person has exceptional essential expenses which he or she could not reasonably be expected to meet from within his or her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to an exceptional needs payment. These payments are made at the discretion of the health board. Every decision is based on careful consideration of the circumstances of the particular case.

In reaching a determination on an application for an exceptional needs payment, a health board will consider the nature and extent of the need and the resources of the household. The health board will also consider the availability of an alternative source to meet the need, for example entitlements from other Departments or State agencies.

The essential repairs grant, referred to by the Senator, and the disabled person's grant are the appropriate schemes to provide assistance to people who need financial help with essential repairs. As the Senator will be aware, these schemes are the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and are administered through the local authorities. In addition to these primary schemes, the health boards operate a home improvement scheme which is designed to provide assistance with minor repairs to improve the living conditions of older people living alone or in unfit conditions.

I am aware that in some exceptional instances additional funding by way of exceptional needs payments has been provided through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme to people availing of these schemes. However, there is no provision in the supplementary welfare allowance scheme to make such assistance available on an ongoing basis.

There are obvious difficulties if the supplementary welfare allowance scheme becomes involved in providing assistance in an area which comes within the remit of another Department. Any changes relating to the level of funding being provided under the terms of the essential repairs grant or the disabled person's grant would be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

It would be factually incorrect to say this source of income is not available. It is available as an exceptional needs payments. My Department has always liaised with people who have particular difficulties. It is given at the discretion of the community welfare officer under section 31 of the relevant legislation. If there are particular circumstances, a community welfare officer would be forthcoming in supporting a person by giving him or her additional support where the person might have a difficulty in meeting the differential between the grant and the amount of money to be paid. It is often done is consultation with local voluntary agencies such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul or the local care of the aged.

In no way has that flexibility in regard to the scheme been removed on my behalf as it is administered through the health boards. Perhaps the Senator could speak to the supervisory person in the health board to ensure that the needs of the constituent concerned are met.