Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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246. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details in tabular form, of supplementary welfare allowance for each year 2010 to 2014, inclusive, and up to 30 August 2015 for each county; the number of applicants in each year; the welfare schemes they had applied for; the number of applicants per scheme; the number of successful and unsuccessful applicants for supplementary welfare allowance each year; the number of supplementary welfare appeals per year; the details of results of appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31635/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. The Government has provided over €70 million for basic supplementary welfare allowance in 2015. There are currently approximately 16,800 basic supplementary welfare allowance recipients.

Statistics are not available on the number of SWA applications received or the outcome of those applications.

Details of the number of recipients of basic SWA are provided in the Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services report that is published annually by the Department. This data has been collated in the tabular statement provided, which provides details of the numbers of basic SWA recipients for the years 2010-2014 and to the end of August 2015, broken down by county and by category.

Details of the number of basic SWA appeals and the outcome of those appeals are being collated and will be forwarded separately to the Deputy.

Tabular Statement

Table 1 - Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance recipients by County 2010 to 2015

Table 2 - Recipients of Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments by Category 2010 - 2015: