Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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409. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reasons for the considerable drop in payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, formerly the community welfare officers budget; and if there has been a change in policy to initiate the drop in payments. [21271/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is considered as the "safety net" within the overall social welfare system in that it 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.

SWA can consist of a basic primary weekly payment and/or a weekly/monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses a person may not be able to meet, including rent, travel and heat. In addition, under the SWA scheme, my 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. An Urgent Needs Payment (UNP) is a once-off payment made to persons who would not normally qualify for SWA but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or an alternative is not available at that time. I understand that the focus of the Deputy’s question is the drop in payments under the ENP scheme since 2008.

The Government has provided €30.3 million for the ENP and UNP schemes in 2016. In line with all SWA schemes, the overall reduction in the Live Register and general improvement in the economy has reduced recourse to the ENP scheme. Expenditure on the ENP/UNP schemes decreased from a peak of €82 million in 2008 to €30 million in 2014, with a provisional outturn of €31m in 2015. Year to date expenditure in 2016 would suggest an outturn in line with the previous 2 years suggesting that expenditure under the scheme is stabilising at some €30 million.

In terms of Departmental policy, in 2012 a working group made up of staff from the Community Welfare Service reviewed the existing ENP guidelines with a view to, in so far as possible, achieve standardisation and consistency of treatment of applications across the country. This review has been used as a basis for revised guidelines that issued to staff in 2012 and 2013. These guidelines provide maximum recommended amounts for specific items such as white goods, furniture and prams. The Department reviewed these guidelines in 2015 and no changes were provided to the recommended amounts.

In 2012, guidance issued to staff in relation to payment of ENPs in respect of the “kit out” of accommodation provided by a housing authority, to limit payments to cases where the accommodation is either built or purchased by the local authority. These provisions also apply to accommodation provided by voluntary housing bodies.

These guidelines assist Departmental 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.

While expenditure under the scheme has reduced in recent years, the scheme is demand led and continues to provide assistance to those with exceptional needs 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.