Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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73. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the budget allocated for supplementary welfare allowance from 2014 to date; his views on whether the budget is sufficient to meet demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17859/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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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.

Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic primary weekly payment and/or a weekly/monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, including rent, as well as single exceptional needs payments (ENPs) and urgent needs payments (UNPs). The budget allocated for the SWA schemes for 2014 to 2017 are set out in the following tabular statement.

The SWA schemes are subject to a means test and are demand led. There has been a reduction in the numbers receiving support through the SWA schemes which can be attributed to the overall improvement in the economy, improvements in administration and policy changes in recent years. Claim processing times have improved with the introduction of the Intreo centres and establishment of integrated decisions teams which has reduced recourse to basic SWA payments.

I can assure the Deputy that the SWA scheme is kept under review to ensure that it continues to support those most in need of assistance.

Exchequer Provision for SWA schemes 2014 to 2017

From 2015, the Estimate provision for Direct Provision Allowance is recorded separately.