John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if clothing allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny on appeal under the supplementary welfare appeals scheme in view of the difficult circumstances of their case. [9904/08]

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 South-Eastern Area of the Executive has advised that the person concerned applied to the local Community Welfare Office (CWO) for an ENP for clothing in November 2007. The CWO has advised that the person concerned had already received a number of exceptional needs payments in 2007 and her request was refused as an exceptional need was not in evidence. The person concerned appealed the decision to the designated officer of the HSE Appeals Office in December 2007 and the decision was upheld on appeal. The person concerned has been notified of the decision. The person concerned was further advised that if there are changes in her circumstances she should make a formal application for an ENP that will be considered under the terms of the scheme.