Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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230. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if financial assistance will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21543/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my department can 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 these payments which are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case. 

According to the records of my department an application for financial assistance has not been received from the person concerned.  For the convenience of the person an application pack for an Exceptional Needs Payment has been posted to her home address.  When the completed form and supporting documentation has been received, the person’s application will be assessed, and she will be advised of the outcome in writing.

The person concerned is currently in receipt of a State Pension Contributory,  a Living Alone Increase, Household Benefits Package, Telephone Support Allowance and Free Travel.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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An application for a Free Travel Companion Pass was received from the person concerned in February 2022.  This application was forwarded to the Department's Medical Advisor for decision.

The Department's Medical Advisor has found that a Free Travel Companion Pass on medical grounds is not warranted on the basis of the medical evidence supplied.  As a result, the application for a Free Travel Companion Pass was disallowed and the person concerned has been notified accordingly. 

It remains open to the person concerned to provide additional (or specialist) medical evidence in support of their claim for a companion pass.  If further evidence is provided, the matter will be re-examined.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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232. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which her Department can help to facilitate a person (details supplied) who requires a basic social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21645/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the state whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents.  Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) and Urgent Needs Payments (UNPs). 

The weekly SWA payment provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other state schemes.  Applications made under the SWA Scheme are administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service in my Department.

Departmental records reflect that the person concerned applied for a weekly SWA payment with effect from 14/04/2022.

Following the Deputy’s representation, a Designated Person  arranged a home visit with the person concerned on 27/04/2022 to progress his application.

In the course of the meeting the person concerned was asked to provide the following information:

- A copy of document from the Department of Justice outlining the conditions relating to the person’s permission to reside in the state.

- Proof of means while in Ireland.

- Lease agreement.

- Completed application forms for Disability Allowance and Habitual Residence Condition.

When this information has been received, the SWA application will be assessed and the person concerned will be advised of the outcome in writing.

I trust this clarifies the matter.