Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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184. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the degree to which adequate resources remain available to her Department to meet exceptional needs payment requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40370/14]

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. The Government has provided €31.3 million for the scheme in 2014.

ENPs are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case. This is to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. Departmental guidelines outline recommended maximum amounts payable for a variety of household and personal items.

These guidelines assist staff administering the scheme and do not affect the discretion available to officers in issuing an ENP to assist an individual or household in any particular hardship situation which may arise.

I am satisfied that the Government provision is adequate to meet the exceptional needs of persons under this scheme. Expenditure under the scheme is kept under review by the Department.