Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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459. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person applies for the additional needs payment to purchase a household appliance such as a cooker, fridge or washing machine, if the store refuses to supply an invoice if the community welfare officer will accept an online quote from a store; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22766/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income.

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.

In general, where ANP applications are made for assistance with the purchase of kitchen appliances, a quotation with regard to the cost of the item is required and this can be an on-line quotation.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.