Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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399. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56565/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Community Welfare Service remains a flexible service which meets the varied needs of vulnerable people, and it continues to provide local access to local Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) in local areas across the country.  There are no plans to change this aspect of the service. 

CWOs are available to facilitate urgent and in-person meetings in over 50 Intreo Centres nationwide, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.  In addition to meeting citizens in Intreo Centres, Branch Offices and DSP offices, CWOs can facilitate an appointment within a short time of a person requiring such a meeting, at a mutually agreed location, including at the person's home.   

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make Additional Needs Payments (ANPs) to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income.  This is an over-arching administrative 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 a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. 

The scheme is demand led.  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.

Where an official is aware of a customer with an urgent or immediate need, every effort is made to ensure that the person receives a prompt service, usually on the same day.  CWOs are available to meet with customers as required across the country.

If the Deputy is concerned about a particular case, I would ask that he brings this to the attention of my Department by emailing TDREPSCWS@welfare.ie or phoning the Oireachtas direct point of contact line at 01 462 4308.

I trust this clarifies the matter.