Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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656. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the guardian's payment (contributory) for a person (details supplied) was discontinued when the person began to receive disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54758/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Guardian's Payment is paid to a guardian solely for the benefit of a child, who is in their care and satisfies the definition of an "orphan" under social welfare legislation.

There is a general principle of one person, one payment, across the Irish social welfare system. This principle is common to social security systems across the world. DSP legislation stipulates that Guardian's Payment is not payable in respect of a child who has been awarded Disability Allowance in their own right. Consequently entitlement to Guardian's Payment ceased when the child was awarded Disability Allowance.

The person concerned is currently in receipt of Child Benefit, Carer's Allowance and Respite Care Grant for the child. Domiciliary Care Allowance was paid up to his 16th birthday.

My Department also provides an additional needs payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes certain means tested supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place 0818 607080- which will direct callers to the appropriate offices.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.