Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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129. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection notwithstanding the response to previous enquiries including parliamentary questions, the basis on which it was determined that a person (details supplied) in County Kildare did not qualify for an exceptional needs payment following a recent bereavement which was preceded by a long family illness and given that the person subsequently borrowed from relatives to meet funeral costs; if the decision in this case is in common with other decisions of a similar nature; if she will review the circumstances surrounding this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1398/16]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As outlined in reply to the Deputy’s questions Nos. 33251-15 of 29 September 2015, 35119-15 of 8 October 2015 and 38803-15 of 5 November 2015, the person concerned undertook to provide written confirmation of the loan she received to meet the funeral costs. As this documentation was not received, a decision was taken on 13 November 2015 to disallow the application. If the person concerned provides the required documentation, a decision can be made as to whether the case could then be reviewed.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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130. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for an exceptional needs payment arising from funeral costs in each of the past 12 months; the number granted; the number refused; the number pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1399/16]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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166. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants for exceptional needs payments and the number approved in each of the past five years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1531/16]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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171. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of exceptional needs payments made to families in each of the past six years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1536/16]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 166 and 171 together.

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 €30.3 million for the ENP scheme in 2016.

There is no automatic entitlement to a payment. The ENP scheme is demand-led and payments are made 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 in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.

An application can be made under the ENP scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses. Relevant circumstances of the applicant and that of the deceased person including any savings, property, insurance policies, etc. are considered in determining an application for support towards funerals and burials. The Department official will also consider if a bereavement payment is available from any other source including former employer, credit union or trade union. Approximately 2,700 payments were made in 2015 in respect of funeral and burial costs at a cost of some €4.4 million.

Statistics are maintained relating to payments under the ENP scheme, however they are not maintained on the number of applications received or the outcome of those applications, or on the number of payments made to families. The number of ENP payments made in each of the past six years is contained in the tabular statement. Details of the number of ENP payments made in each of the past 12 months in relation to funeral and burial expenses is also contained in the tabular statement.

Number of ENP Payments for funeral and burial expenses from January to December 2015

Number of Exceptional Needs Payments for 2010 to 2015