Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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244. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an enhanced exceptional needs payment will be made available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41013/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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According to the records of my Department, the person concerned was awarded an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) on 10/03/2020 for €2,797 towards a ‘ kit out’ of her new accommodation. Since then the person concerned has made no further applications for an ENP.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make a single ENP to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment which is 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, in order to ensure that payments target those most in need of assistance.

For the convenience of the person concerned, an ENP application pack has been issued. On receipt of the completed application form and any necessary supporting documentation, the application of the person concerned will be assessed and she will be advised of the outcome.

I trust this clarifies the matter.