Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for supplementary welfare allowance in 2006, 2007 and to date in 2008. [47424/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department. Statistics are not held on the number of people who applied for payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The scheme is delivered locally by community welfare officers who interview claimants when they first present to enquire about possible entitlements under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. Claim details are recorded electronically only in cases where it is established that a claim is payable under the scheme. The following tabular statement shows the number of recipients of supplementary welfare allowance and the total number of exceptional needs payments from 2006 to date: