Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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362. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on an exceptional needs payment (details supplied). [68962/25]

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 assist people with essential expenditure, which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income, and personal or household resources. SWA payments are administered by Designated Persons (DPs) in the Community Welfare Service (CWS) considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case. All ANP applications 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.

According to the records of the Department, the person concerned applied for an ANP on the 05/11/2025 for assistance towards furnishing their new home. A request for further information issued to the person concerned on 05/11/2025 and 19/11/2025.

Having reviewed the information provided by the person concerned, additional information is required in order to complete the means test to make an appropriate decision on the claim. Once this information is provided, the DP will make a decision on the claim promptly.

A DP has made numerous attempts contact the person concerned by phone and text to discuss the information that remains outstanding. To date, no contact has been returned. The relevant DP has also advised that they are available for an in-person meeting at Parnell St Community Welfare Services, should this be a preferred option for the person concerned.

To assist with the matter, I have arranged for a communication to issue separately to the Deputy to outline all necessary information and next steps for the person concerned which will include contact details for the DP. The DP will continue to reach out to make direct contact with customer.