Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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156. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a county breakdown of the number of person's who availed of the religious ceremonies grant over the last five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23447/13]

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 and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to a payment. The Government has provided €47.6 million for the ENP scheme in 2013.

For 2013, the Department has recommended that payment of the allowance specifically in respect of religious ceremonies will cease. Applications can continue to be made under the scheme for assistance with child clothing. This measure will ensure that the ENP scheme will continue to respond to specific needs and not to the occasion.

ENP's statistics in respect of religious ceremonies are not available on a county basis. Detail of ENPs paid during the past five years for religious ceremonies is provided in the tabular statement.

Tabular Statement

ENP Statistics on Religious Ceremonies 2008 to 2012