Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department of Social Protection 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 €27.9 million for the ENP scheme in 2015.

An application can be made under the ENP scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses. An ENP is a means tested payment 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 applicant and that of the deceased person including any savings, property, insurance policies, etc. The Department official will also consider if a bereavement payment is available from any other source including former employer, credit union or trade union.

In 2014, the Department supported approximately 3,000 applicants with financial assistance towards funeral and burial expenses. Of these payments, 154 were in excess of €2,500. To the end of October 2015, assistance has been provided in some 2,400 cases with payment in excess of €2,500 in 136 of these cases.

The tabular statement below provides a breakdown by county of payments in excess of €2,500 in cases where 5 or more payments were made.

Number of payments for assistance with funeral and burial expenses in excess of €2,500 in 2014 and October 2015.

Counties with less than five payments have not been included.