Written answers

Tuesday, 11 April 2017

Department of Social Protection

Supplementary Welfare Allowance

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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395. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will ensure that provision is made whereby emergency payments are made available in cases of extreme hardship by way of exceptional needs payment or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18335/17]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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396. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for exceptional needs payments to assist towards funeral costs in 2016; the number granted, refused and pending; the extent to which this compares with the previous year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18336/17]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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404. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which community welfare services remain readily accessible in all areas throughout the country with particular reference to meeting out of hours and emergency needs where necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18344/17]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 395, 396 and 404 together.

The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is demand led and 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.

People claiming supports under the SWA scheme generally only interact with the Department on an occasional basis, for example, when seeking an exceptional needs payment (ENP) or in claiming additional supports such as rent supplement. The availability of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) during normal office hours is therefore sufficient for general day to day requirements. However, in response to emergency situations such as those caused by severe weather events, local management assesses the response required to ensure that supports are provided to those affected as swiftly as possible. This may include provision of emergency or out of hours services and may be supplemented by facilitating clients with individual appointments and making house calls.

My Department may provide an 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) can be paid as 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, for example in the aftermath of a domestic fire or other event where the people affected have an immediate need for support. The Government has provided €31.5 million for ENPs and UNPs in 2017.

There is no automatic entitlement to an ENP, it is payable at the discretion of the Department’s representative, 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 where there is an inability to pay these costs, in part or in full, by the family of the deceased person without causing hardship.

Statistics are maintained relating to payments under the ENP scheme, however they are not maintained on the number of applications or the outcome of those applications. Some 2,900 ENPs for assistance with funeral and burial costs issued in 2016 at a total cost of approximately €5 million. This compares with some 3,000 payments at a cost of €5 million in 2015.

Any persons who consider that they have an entitlement to assistance under the SWA scheme should contact my Department. I can assure the Deputy that the SWA scheme is kept under review to ensure that the CWS continues to support those most in need of assistance.

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