Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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435. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she can make arrangements for the early payment of an annual grant in respect of a person (details supplied); if this is not readily available to the person, if she will provide guidance on whether any other social protection payment is available in the interim; and if an appeal process is available in respect of another social protection should the person fail to secure it. [11030/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Carer's Support Grant (CSG) is an annual payment made to carers who receive Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance. The CSG is currently payable at a rate of €1,850 and is paid in June each year. The CSG can also be paid on a stand-alone basis to people not in receipt of these payments but who are providing full time care to a care recipient for a continuous period of at least six months and this period must include the first Thursday in June. In the case of a stand-alone CSG, where a care recipient passes away prior to this date in June, the CSG is not payable in respect of that person.

I understand that the person concerned is already in receipt of a primary social welfare payment.

However, in cases of income need, under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme administered by the Community Welfare Service of my Department, a single payment may be made to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Such an Additional Needs Payment is made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.

If the person concerned considers they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment, they should contact their local Community Welfare Service. There is a National Community Welfare Service Contact Centre in place – 0818 607080 – which will direct callers to the appropriate office.

Decisions on Additional Needs Payments are not appealable to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. However, should a person wish to have such a decision reviewed, a review by a Review Officer in my Department may be requested.

Queries in relation to Disabled Parking Permits are dealt with by the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.