James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for back-to-school and communion and confirmation grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19045/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The administrative arrangements for the 2011 back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme differ from those that applied in previous years. For this year, the majority of back to school clothing and footwear allowance entitlements were fully automated with no application form required from customers. As the person in question was not one of the customers who received an automated payment they are required to complete an application form which is available for download from www.welfare.ie or by texting "Form BTSCFA", followed by their name and address to 51909. The completed application form should be returned to Department of Social Protection, PO Box 131, Letterkenny, Co Donegal where a decision will be made in relation to their entitlement.

Under the supplementary allowance scheme an exceptional needs payment (ENP) may be made by the Health Service Executive (HSE) 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 HSE based on the particular circumstances of the case. Eligible people would normally be in receipt of a social welfare or HSE payment. The person concerned was refused an exceptional needs payment in respect of confirmation costs on 7 March 2011. She subsequently appealed the decision to the relevant appeals office in the HSE. The decision to refuse the exceptional needs payment was upheld by appeals officer.