Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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171. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment can be availed of to purchase a skip to help with the build-up of rubbish for an applicant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33658/21]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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172. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of exceptional needs payments granted to those applying and indicating that they were using the payment for the purchase of a skip or to clean up their home following the build-up of rubbish over the past three years by area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33659/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (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 a payment under this scheme.  Payments are made 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 the payments target those most in need of assistance. 

Statistics are maintained on the number of applications awarded under the ENP scheme, but it is not possible to identify payments made for the purchase of a skip or to clean up a home.

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an exceptional or urgent needs payment should contact my Department's Community Welfare Service.  My Department has established an Income Support Line - 1890 800 024 – which can be used by customers at this time to contact the Department. Staff can advise them on how to make an application for assistance from the Department.  

If the Deputy has concerns about a particular case, I would ask him to bring it to the attention of my Department.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.