Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 402: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on the request of residents of Newcastle West, who had their homes and businesses damaged by the severe flooding of 31 July and 1 August 2008, for compensation as per previous responses to such disasters; her further views on whether such damage could not be anticipated by the residents and that the State has a duty to respond to the financial implications arising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40790/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, 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 HSE may make a single payment to meet an exceptional need 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 persons 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 shelter. Assistance can be provided to people affected in cash or in kind.

There is no automatic entitlement to these payments. Each application is determined on the particular circumstances of the case. In assessing income, consideration is given as to whether a person is in receipt of a social welfare or health service executive payment or to the gross household income with allowance made as appropriate under normal SWA means assessments.

Over the past few months, flooding has been experienced in a number of areas of the country. The Department's role in response to the recent flooding primarily involves supporting the community welfare service in the provision of ENP and UNP funding in the short term and other supports where applicable to cater for the long term effects of the flooding. Any support given relates to damage to a person's home or loss of essential items. It does not extend to business or commercial losses. Some 24 payments were made in response to the flooding incident to which the Deputy refers. In addition, 5 households have been paid rent supplement.

Local community welfare officers are available to provide assistance on an individual basis where that is warranted. If any person is experiencing hardship as a result of the recent flooding, they should contact their local community welfare officer in the first instance.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position in relation to an application for supplementary welfare allowance by persons (details supplied) in County Cork. [41024/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of the Department 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.

The Executive has advised that the persons concerned were awarded an exceptional needs payment of €1,727.50 on 10 November 2008. If they are unhappy with the amount of the exceptional needs payment it is open to them to appeal against the decision of the community welfare officer to the Executive's designated Appeals Office. If there has been any change in the circumstances of the persons concerned, they should contact their local Community Welfare Officer.