Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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486. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will outline the extent, if any, to which she intends to expand or extend various social welfare payments given the increased cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15450/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I fully recognise the challenges the increased the cost of living has brought to many people and families. That is why, in September, I announced the largest social protection Budget package in the history of the State - comprising measures worth almost €2.2 billion.

This included eight separate cost of living lump sum payments paid in Quarter 4 last year to ease the pressure that many households are facing.

From the start of January, we have seen a wide range of increases come into effect. This includes a €12 across the board increase to weekly rates – the largest increase to weekly rates since the mid-2000s.

I also announced the largest ever expansion in the Fuel Allowance scheme, and over 30,000 additional households have joined this scheme since the Budget announcement in September.

The ESRI post-Budget analysis shows that Budget 2023, combined with once-off measures to reduce the cost of living, has been effective in protecting most households from rising prices through the winter and in fact that lower income households are better off than if they had just received an inflation indexed increase in basic rates.

Government has continued to monitor the situation and that is why, last month we announced additional support for people over the coming months, including:

- A €200 lump sum payment to be provided to people on long-term Social Protection payments, on the same basis as the Christmas bonus, and including Working Family Payment recipients;

- For people receiving Child Benefit, a €100 lump sum payment for each child to be paid in June;

- An additional payment of €100 to be paid for each child for whom Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is paid.

Together, these supports will provide a further €410 million in additional supports to households and families in need.

I can assure the Deputy that the Government will continue to monitor the situation.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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487. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider easing the requirements for qualification for exceptional needs payments, with particular reference to ongoing, unforeseen challenges affecting individuals and families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15451/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments (ANPs) 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 which are deemed to be necessary.

In 2022, the Community Welfare Service awarded 97,224 ANPs at a total value of over €58 million, which shows just how responsive the service is to our clients.

The scheme is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the Designated Persons (DP) administering the scheme considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case. The customer must provide personal, financial, household and other information in support of their claim to determine eligibility and to establish a ‘need’ arising. The ANP does not however cover non-essential household or personal expenses, or costs that are the responsibility of another government department or agency.

This important support is not restricted to those already on a social welfare payment and may also be available to those working on a low income.

Each application is considered on its own merit and payments are awarded at the discretion of the DP having considered the nature and extent of the need. The DP also considers the ability of the client to meet the need from their own resources and/or those living within the household. The DP takes into account the income/means of the client, their weekly household income, savings and investments as well as outgoings.

Any person who is experiencing financial difficulty can apply for an ANP by completing a SWA1 form, which is available in all Intreo Centres and Branch Offices. It can also be requested by calling the National Community Welfare Service freephone line at 0818 60 70 80 or via the Request an Application Form page on www.gov.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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488. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider easing the qualification requirements in respect of domiciliary care allowance, given the number of cases referred to appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15452/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable to a parent/guardian in respect of a child aged under 16, who has a severe disability and requires continual or continuous care and attention in the home, that is substantially over and above the level of care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and the child must be likely to require to require this level of care for at least 12 months.

Eligibility for DCA is determined primarily and essentially by reference to the degree of ongoing care and attention required by the child rather than the child's disability. To qualify for DCA , it must be established that the level of care and attention required by the relevant child is substantially in excess of that normally required by children of the same age and likely to be required for at least 12 months, as provided for in the qualifying conditions for the scheme, in accordance with the governing legislation.

Due to the nature and purpose of the scheme, all applicants are encouraged to provide any additional information and / or documentary evidence that is relevant, such as medical professional report(s) or otherwise with the initial application, (including in cases where a review(s) is subsequently requested), which may assist the department's deciding officers and medical assessors to make an appropriate decision on entitlement and at the earliest possible date.

Any scheme changes, including changes to the qualifying conditions for DCA, would need to be considered in an overall policy, legislative and budgetary context.

In the last Budget, I announced that I would be amending the scheme to allow for payment of Domiciliary Care Allowance in respect of children who remain in hospital after birth due to illness or disability. I am introducing Regulations to that effect.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.