John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal against the decision to refuse an application for a clothing allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if she will expedite a decision on same. [29728/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The community welfare service (CWS), and the community welfare officers providing it, formally transferred to the Department of Social Protection (DSP) from 1 October 2011. The service and the staff are now part of the DSP. Under the supplementary allowance scheme (SWA) 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 based on the particular circumstances of the case. Eligible people would normally be in receipt of a social welfare or HSE payment.

The Department's representative administering SWA has refused an exceptional needs payment in this case and has advised the person concerned of his right to appeal the decision to the relevant appeals office. To date there is no record of an appeal in this case.