Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 550: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has only been sanctioned for a reduced supplementary welfare allowance payment in view of the circumstances of the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34137/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of 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 Executive has advised that the accommodation needs of the person concerned are now being met under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) which is administered by local housing authorities under the aegis of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The person concerned has been paid an exceptional needs payment on eight occasions in 2007. Her most recent application was made on 29th November 2007. She was granted a payment by the CWO on the basis of the circumstances of the case she made at the time. It is open to the person concerned to approach the Executive should she wish to make an application for further ENP support.