Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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120. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has a timeframe within which domestic violence has occurred for a person to be eligible for an emergency needs’ payment; if so, the timeframe after the violence has occurred after which her Department will no longer accept an application for an emergency needs’ payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15125/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Primary responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may 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 customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.

The scheme is demand-led and there is no budget cap. 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.

The timeframe within which domestic violence has occurred is not a condition for receipt of assistance by way of an Additional Needs Payment.

My Department also provides support to victims of domestic violence by providing easier access to rent supplement through a referral protocol agreed with Tusla. Access to the wider service provision of the community welfare service, including Additional Needs Payments, is available to victims of domestic violence whether referred through this protocol or not.

I am committed to supporting victims of domestic violence and to providing support through the joined-up service delivery model provided by Tusla.

I encourage any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment 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.