Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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109. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if his Department allowed welfare officers or offices to pay for repairs to vehicles registered outside this country whilst here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14452/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) and Urgent Needs Payments (UNPs) 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. ANPs are administered by Designated Persons (DPs) in the Community Welfare Service (CWS) considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances

All cases are considered on a case-by-case basis based on the need presenting. This entails an assessment, as opposed to a specific means test, of an applicant’s weekly household income, their savings and investments, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed. The assessment will also include any income that their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant has. As part of the application process, a person must provide personal, financial, household, and other information in support of their claim to determine eligibility and to establish a need as considered necessary.

An ANP may be provided to assist with car repairs where a need has been established by a DP, however it is not possible to extract data solely related to ANPs provided towards car repairs and/or repairs to vehicles registered outside the country. Furthermore, under the eligibility criteria for an ANP, a person applying must be living in the State.

The Office of the Revenue Commissioners has responsibility for the rules and regulations regarding vehicle importation, registrations and exemptions in Ireland, including enforcement of customs controls, and my Department has no role in these matters.

I trust this clarifies the matter.