John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1272. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons aged from 18 to 25 years of age who have sought assistance through the supplementary welfare allowance in each of the years from 2009 to 2018 and to date in 2019. [13425/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 and who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. The Government has provided €106.5 million for basic SWA payments in 2019.

Statistics are maintained on the number of applications awarded under the SWA scheme, however they are not maintained on the number of applications or the outcome of those applications.

There are currently some 2,200 persons aged under 26 who have been awarded a basic SWA payment. The number was 2,250 at the end of 2018 and 2,355 at the end of 2017. Equivalent statistics are not available for years prior to 2017. However, the annual statistical reports published by the Department contain age categorisations of basic SWA recipients for those years, and are available on the Department's website, .

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.