Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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170. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average wait time for an urgent needs payment in Cork. [30187/24]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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171. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average wait time for a supplementary welfare allowance in Cork. [30188/24]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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172. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for an urgent needs payment in Cork, by reason, in 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, respectively, in tabular form. [30189/24]

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. 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.

The schemes are 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 in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.

Table 1 shows the number of Urgent Needs Payments issued in County Cork for 2021 to 2024 (end of Q1). Urgent Needs Payments are not classified by a reason.

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.

Table 1 - The number of Urgent Needs Payments awarded in County Cork 2021 to 2024 (end of Q1)