Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will facilitate an exceptional needs payment for the purchase of heating oil in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38444/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive.

Under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, a recipient of a social welfare or Health Service Executive payment who has exceptional heating costs due to ill health or infirmity can apply to their local community welfare officer for a special heating supplement. In addition, legislation also provides for a single payment — known as an exceptional needs payment — to be made to help meet essential, once-off exceptional expenditure.

The Dublin/ Mid Leinster Area of the Executive have advised that the person concerned has made no application for an exceptional needs payment or a heating supplement in 2006. The Executive has forwarded an application form and supporting information to the person concerned in order that she can make an application for assistance.