Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 340: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if persons (details supplied) in County Mayo were compensated. [18934/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, which is administered by the Community Welfare Division of the Health Service Executive (HSE), is designed to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.

Under the legislation governing the scheme, the Health Service Executive (HSE) may make an exceptional needs payment to people on social welfare or health board payments. This is a once-off payment to meet an unforeseen or special need that cannot be met from a person's basic income.

Assistance in the form of an Urgent Needs Payment (UNP) can be also made to people who would not normally be entitled to SWA, to assist, for example in cases of flood damage, with immediate needs, such as food, clothing, fuel, household goods and perhaps shelter. Assistance can be provided in cash or in kind.

The Executive has advised that following flood damage to their residence in December 2006 the people concerned provided the Executive with an estimate of damages to their property in April 2007. Arising from this, the local Community Welfare Service subsequently requested expenditure details and repair costs incurred as a result of the damage suffered due to the flooding in order that their application could be determined. The Executive has advised that to date the additional information has not been provided. The Executive further advise that if the requested information is provided the case will be further examined.