Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount granted under the exceptional needs payment for funeral expenses in 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20741/11]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount paid for funeral expenses by her Department or by community welfare officers in 2008, 2009 and 2010. [20757/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 256 together.

An Exceptional Needs Payment is a single payment to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income, and can include assistance with funeral expenses. I attach a tabular statement showing the expenditure on funeral expenses under the exceptional needs payment in 2008, 2009 and 2010.