Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Social Protection in view of the fact that community welfare officers have been transferred from the Department of Health to the Department of Social Protection, the persons with responsibility of providing financial assistance to patients who have to travel regularly to hospital for treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8681/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. However, the scheme is not intended to cover circumstances where another Government Department or Agency has a primary responsibility such as patient transport. Patient transport is a matter for the Health Service Executive and it was never within the remit of the Community Welfare Service.