Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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251. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if reconsideration of an application for exceptional needs payment will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20446/23]

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

The ENP scheme is 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.

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 an ENP for the purchase of household furnishings. This application was disallowed on the basis the person concerned had the means to meet the need from their own their own income and capital resources.

A decision letter dated 13/04/2023 issued to the person concerned advising the outcome of the application and affording them the option of seeking a review of the Designated Person’s decision.

Determinations made in relation to claims made under Sections 200, 201 and 202 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation Act) 2005, namely allowances-in-kind, ENPs and UNPs, can be reviewed by a SWA Reviewing Officer under Section 323 of that Act.

Following a request from the person concerned a review of the decision was undertaken and the original decision was upheld. The person concerned was advised of the outcome in writing on 28/04/2023.

The person concerned may find it useful to contact the Money Advice and Budgeting Service which provides support with managing debt and household finances. If the person concerned requires assistance with an essential expense that they are unable to meet from their weekly income in the future, they should make a new application for an Additional Needs Payment.

I trust this clarifies the matter.