Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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141. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports that are in place for parents struggling to afford infant baby formula, particularly where such formula is essential; and if he plans to increase such supports. [26529/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Matters related to social welfare payments are a matter for the Department of Social Protection.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, the Department of Social Protection may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential 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.

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.