Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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433. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on whether departmental guidelines were not intended to have the adverse consequences that have occurred in the case of a person (details supplied); if she will intervene in this case to ensure that they are not pursued by the debt management section of her Department. [59303/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Deserted Wife’s Benefit is a social protection payment made to women who were deserted by their husbands. One of the conditions for entitlement to Deserted Wife’s Benefit payment is permanent residence in the state.

The scheme allows for payment in respect of a period abroad in certain limited situations. Reasonable absences of up to a maximum of 3 weeks outside the State are permitted, for example for the purposes of holidays or attending a funeral.

Under the circumstances outlined and, as the absence from the State of the person concerned occurred during two different calendar years, the Department has reviewed the recent revised decision made. The person concerned has been notified, in writing, of the positive outcome of the review on 28 November 2022.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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434. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59315/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is to assist people with essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.

ENPs are demand led and 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.

Applications for ENPs are made under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service in my Department.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for assistance with the purchase of a fridge. Having assessed the circumstances of the case, the Designated Person has awarded the sum of €320 which will be paid by cheque to the person this week.

I trust this clarifies the matter.