Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average amount of time people remain on disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37638/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people who are in receipt of disability allowance for a maximum of one year, two years, three years and so forth respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37639/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 168 together.

Disability allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a disability who are aged between 16 and 66 years. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to both a medical examination and a means test.

The person must be suffering from an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect which has continued or may reasonably be expected to continue for a period of a year and where, as a result of that condition, the person is substantially handicapped in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable having regard to their age, experience and qualifications.

The main reasons for the termination of claims are that the claimant dies or reaches the maximum age for payment. A key goal in my Department's Statement of Strategy is to facilitate return to work and participation in the active labour force with a view to assisting people to become more financially independent. There are a number of specific incentives available within the system to encourage and facilitate people, including people with illness or disabilities, to take-up or return to employment, or to undertake education and training options. Where people go onto the back to work allowance (BTWA) scheme or FÁS vocational training schemes the disability allowance ceases.

People on the BTWA scheme receive a proportion of their disability allowance payment on a sliding scale while on the scheme. In the case of people on FÁS funded vocational training, FÁS pays their social welfare payment in addition to a training bonus and expenses.

In these cases the person has an automatic right to return to disability allowance should their BTWA or FÁS payment stop and they have no employment.

A table showing a breakdown of the total number of people in receipt of disability allowance and the duration they were in receipt of disability allowance or disabled persons maintenance allowance scheme is as follows.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications made to community welfare officers for exceptional or urgent needs payments each year since the year 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37629/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Health Service Executive (HSE) may make a single payment to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. These payments are a vital component of the SWA scheme.

Those who qualify are normally in receipt of a social welfare or HSE payment. Examples of the main types of needs that are met under this provision are:

assistance towards the purchase of household appliances, bedding, clothing & child related items such as cots and prams

household repair and maintenance, rent deposits and rent/mortgage interest arrears

clothing (includes adult clothing and child clothing)

funeral & burial expenses

illness — including confinement costs & hospital requirements

travel costs

financial hardship

The principal consideration in making a single payment of SWA to address a particular need is that the need to be met must be 'exceptional'. An exceptional needs payment should be a single payment to meet an unforeseen and/or special need which cannot be met from a client's basic income.

In addition to the payment of ENPs, SWA legislation also provides for assistance in the form of an Urgent Needs Payment. In certain circumstances, this payment can be made to persons who would not normally be entitled to SWA. Examples of situations where such assistance may be provided would be in the aftermath of flooding or fire where the immediate needs, such as food, clothing, fuel, household goods and perhaps shelter of the people affected, may be met by a UNP in cash or in kind.

The discretionary elements of SWA i.e. ENPs, UNPs and other supplements remain a key support for disadvantaged persons who are at risk.

A tabular statement outlining the number of exceptional needs and urgent need payments made and the annual expenditure on these payments from the end of 2000 is as follows.