Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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529. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of recipients of the State pension non-contributory in the past two years; the extent to which this number has fluctuated or is likely to so do; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24898/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The table below shows the numbers of recipients of state pension non-contributory at the end of December 2020 and December 2021.

As the scheme is demand led and means tested, it is not possible to predict the extent to which this number is likely to fluctuate in future years.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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530. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of recipients of child benefit payments; the extent to which this has fluctuated in the past two years and is likely to so do in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24899/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The attached tabular statement outlines the monthly recipients of Child Benefit in April 2020, April 2021 and April 2022. There was a fall in recipients of approximately 0.2% between 2020 and 2021, followed by an increase of approximately 0.4% between 2021 and 2022.

By close of business on 1st May 2022, there were 6,104 awarded child benefit claims awarded to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.

My Department has taken note of the latest CSO Regional Projections which forecasts a fall in the birth rate for all migration and fertility scenarios between 2017 and 2036.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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531. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of exceptional needs payments made in each of the past two years to date; the most common reasons for which the payment was sought; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24900/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) 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. An urgent needs payment (UNP) may be made to persons who may not normally qualify for supplementary welfare allowance but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or where an alternative is not available at that time. Government has provided €45.75 million for the exceptional and urgent needs schemes in 2022.

There were approximately 67,600 payments in 2020 and 55,500 payments in 2021. To date in 2022, 18,900 payments have been made. The categories with the largest number of payments within the ENP scheme are the housing category, which includes payments for necessary items including bedding, flooring, furniture, household appliances and rent deposits; and the general category, which includes support for travel costs, heating costs and the clothing category.

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an exceptional or urgent needs payment are encouraged to contact their local Intreo Centre. There is a National Intreo Contact Centre in place - 0818-405060 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.