Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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324. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will be taking measures to assist the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government in supporting families that are living in emergency accommodation, including hotels, to get their children to and from school and social activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31791/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is considered 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.

Families living in emergency accommodation placements may have additional costs, including travel to school costs for children. Additional supports can be provided through a supplement under the SWA scheme which can be paid in addition to the weekly social welfare payment. These are discretionary payments that are made following an assessment of the actual needs in each case.

The Department is currently supporting homeless families with these additional costs through the provision of weekly supplements, for example, the Homeless Persons unit in Dublin is currently assisting over 80 such families.

The Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness – Rebuilding Ireland commits to providing access to free public transport for family travel and for school journeys for homeless families in emergency accommodation and this action is being progressed by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.