Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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177. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which community welfare services are readily available to meet the needs of those in society that may ordinarily have had no reason to call on the social services that may, due to circumstances outside their control, have to rely on exceptional needs payments to get by in a crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26247/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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178. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if arrangements can be made to ensure that emergency payments are available in cases in which an emergency exists out of hours or weekends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26248/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department has re-engineered its business model to support the provision of integrated services across all business streams involved in the delivery of localised services. As part of this strategy, the Department is engaged in the delivery of integrated Intreo centres, which provide a full range of services, including the Community Welfare Service (CWS), generally available in one location.

People claiming supports under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme generally only interact with the Department on an occasional basis, for example, when seeking an exceptional needs payment or in claiming additional supports such as rent supplement, which are usually reviewed once to twice yearly. The availability of the 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 staff are proactive in contacting households affected and in providing targeted supports to those in need as swiftly as possible. This can include the provision of service outside normal office hours and to people that may ordinarily have no reason to engage with these services. The Deputy may be aware that following the recent fire at the Verdemont complex in Blanchardstown, a multi-agency clinic comprising the CWS, Citizens Information and Fingal Council was quickly put in place for people affected. Supports available under my Department's Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) and Urgent Needs Payments (UNP) schemes are considered in these circumstances.

I trust this clarifies the arrangements and supports in place.