Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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272. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a limit has been set in respect of exceptional needs payments in cases in which the person has had no income for a period of several weeks; if payments available can be of a more realistic nature or the award of basic payment in lieu thereof; the number of such payments in respect of which applications were received in each of the past four years to date; the number granted; the number refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30550/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the 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. There is no automatic entitlement to a payment or pre-determined amounts under the scheme. ENPs are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case. Government has provided €31.5 for the ENP scheme in 2017.

Basic weekly SWA may be paid to customers awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment. In certain circumstances if a person is not eligible for other social welfare payments and their weekly income is below the SWA rate for their family size, a payment may be made to bring their income up to the appropriate SWA rate. Apart from a number of excluded categories, anyone in the State who satisfies a habitual residence condition and a means test, has registered for employment (unless they have a physical or mental disability) and can prove unemployment may qualify for SWA. ENPs are not subject to the habitual residence condition and may be considered in exceptional circumstances to meet essential needs of people who do not qualify for other social welfare payments as they do not meet this condition.

Statistics are not maintained on the numbers of ENPs made in cases where a person has no other source of income. If the Deputy has concerns in respect of a particular case he should bring the details to the attention of the Department.

Any persons who consider that they have an entitlement to a basic weekly SWA payment or an ENP scheme should contact the Community Welfare Service of the Department at their local Intreo centre.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.