Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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385. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the assistance available to a person who qualified for a mobility grant; where there is a shortfall; if community welfare assists with this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42104/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Mobility Aids Grant scheme provides grant aid to cover a basic suite of works to address mobility problems, primarily, but not exclusively, associated with ageing. The scheme is funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and administered by local authorities.

The Community Welfare Service in my Department administers the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme which is the safety net within the overall social welfare system. This scheme helps eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. One of the supports provided under the SWA scheme is an Additional Needs Payment (ANP).

The purpose of the ANP is to assist people with essential expenditure, which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. ANPs are awarded at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case. A person must provide personal, financial, household, and other information in support of their claim to determine eligibility and to establish a need arising.

ANPs are not intended to cover circumstances where another Government Department or Agency has a primary responsibility.

I trust this clarifies the matter.