Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

34. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of additional needs payments made, by reason, in Cork, in the first six months of 2022 and the first six months of 2024 respectively, in tabular form. [37632/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 Additional Needs Payments issued in County Cork for Jan-Jun 2022 and for Jan-Jun 2024 by category.

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.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Table 1 - The number of Additional Needs Payments paid in County Cork for Jan-Jun 2022 and for Jan-Jun 2024, by category.