David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons who received the social welfare allowance supplement for each month in each health board area for the years 2002, 2003 and to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27293/04]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards, provides assistance to people whose means are insufficient to meet their basic needs, subject to certain conditions.

In addition to the basic weekly allowance, assistance can be given by health boards under the scheme in the form of supplements in respect of rent, mortgage interest, special dietary or heating requirements, or once-off payments for exceptional needs.

Details of the number of recipients of basic supplementary welfare allowance for each month from January 2002 to date are shown in the following tabular statement.