Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 602: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position of an application for supplementary welfare allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20583/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, an exceptional needs payment (ENP) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which the applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is determined by the Executive based on the particular circumstances of the case. Eligible people would normally be in receipt of a social welfare or health service executive payment.

The Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned applied for and received assistance in respect of a number of different needs last month. Due to an oversight, one aspect of her application was overlooked. The Executive will make a decision shortly on that matter. The delay in dealing with that application for an exceptional needs payment by the person concerned is regretted.