Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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271. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is any social protection support that provides for a door-to-door taxi service in respect of hospital appointments for persons that cannot use other forms of public transport due to ill health (details supplied). [3426/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Supports from my Department are not intended to cover circumstances where another Government Department or Agency has the primary responsibility. The responsibility for the provision of assistance to those who require transport to hospital appointments rests with the Health Service Executive (HSE).

If the person concerned has exhausted all other options and can provide evidence from the HSE that they are unable to provide assistance with transportation and that there is no financial assistance available from another source, including a Government Department or Agency, they can apply for assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme.

Under the SWA scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments (ANPs) to help meet expenses that an eligible person cannot pay from their weekly income. An ANP is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional and Urgent needs payments, and certain Supplements available to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary. Payments are made at the discretion of the Designated Persons administering the scheme considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.

I trust this clarifies the matter.