Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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576. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of individuals in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance for 12 months or more in north Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39408/22]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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577. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of individuals in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance for 12 months or more in south Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39409/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 576 and 577 together.

As of July 10th 2022 there were 930 individuals in north Tipperary and 696 individuals in south Tipperary who are in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance for 12 months or more.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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578. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of grants processed under the additional needs' payment by month and per county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39437/22]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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580. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount spent on granting additional needs payments by month and per county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39439/22]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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581. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the maximum amount of grant awarded on additional needs payments by month and per county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39440/22]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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582. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the maximum salary earned by an awardee of an additional needs' payment by month and per county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39441/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 578, 580, 581 and 582 together.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income.  This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.

The Government has provided funding of €45.75 million for the provision of exceptional and urgent needs that are provided for as Additional Needs Payment in 2022.  A further provision of €5.3 million has been provided for SWA Supplements in 2022 (excluding rent supplement).  The scheme is demand led and is funded accordingly.  The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently receiving a social welfare payment or working on a low income.  

An Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is a single payment 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. 

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.

Table 1 shows the number of additional needs payment claims processed by county for each month to-date in 2022 (to end of June). This represents a snapshot of claim activity taken at 1st July and is subject to change.

Table 2 shows the expenditure for additional needs payments by month to-date in 2022 (to end of June). Breakdown of expenditure by county is not available.

Under the additional needs payments, which can have a wide range value, the amount paid will depend on a person’s weekly household income, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed.  Payments are made for large items, such as help provided in setting up a home for the first time and smaller weekly supplements to assist with ongoing costs. The scheme is demand led. There is no maximum amount awarded and no cap on payment amount allowable; however the system is restricted to issuing payment transactions of €6,500 or less per transaction. If an Officer determines that the need exceeds €6,500 they can issue multiple payments of €6,500 to meet the need presented. Statistics are not maintained on individual payment amounts or the salary levels of persons awarded an additional needs payment.

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service.  There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

TABLE 1 - Number of Additional Needs Payment claims processed by county for each month to-date in 2022 (to end of June)

TABLE 2 - Expenditure for additional needs payments by month to-date in 2022 (to end of June) 

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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579. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection social protection the number of reviews of carer’s allowance conducted by month and per county in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39438/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to a person who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.

The Department periodically reviews claims in payment to ensure that there is continued entitlement. Depending on the circumstances in each case and to make best use of resources, a review may only concentrate on a specific condition of entitlement.

The number of reviews of Carer’s Allowance (CA) conducted by month per county from 1 January 2022 to end June 2022, based on the carer's current address, are set out in the table below

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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583. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of exceptional needs payments and urgent needs payment paid by category for County Wicklow for June 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39498/22]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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584. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the expenditure on exceptional needs payments and urgent needs payment by county in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39499/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 583 and 584 together.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income.  This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.

The Government has provided funding of €45.75 million for the provision of exceptional and urgent needs that are provided for as Additional Needs Payment in 2022.  A further provision of €5.3 million has been provided for SWA Supplements in 2022 (excluding rent supplement).  The scheme is demand led and is funded accordingly.  The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently receiving a social welfare payment or working on a low income.  

An Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is a single payment 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. 

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.

Table 1 shows the number of exceptional needs payments and urgent needs payments paid by category for County Wicklow in June 2022.

Table 2 shows the total expenditure for exceptional needs payments and urgent needs payments in each of the years 2019-2022 (end of June). Breakdown of expenditure by county is not available.

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service.  There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Table 1 - Number of exceptional needs payments and urgent needs payments paid by category for County Wicklow in June 2022

Note:These figures are taken from the Department’s ENP/UNP database and represent a snapshot of claims as they are approved by an officer rather than when they are paid.  Please note the figures do not capture payments that are cancelled, payments that go out of date or overpayments recouped.

Table 2 - Total expenditure for exceptional needs payments and urgent needs payments in each of the years 2019-2022 (end of June)