I propose to take Questions Nos. 935, 950, 958, 963, 966, 979, 987, 992, 1008, 1023, 1032 and 1035 together.
The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single exceptional needs payments (ENPs) and urgent needs payments (UNPs).
The basic supplementary welfare allowance provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
Rent supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that for those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment, can continue to meet their rental commitments.
Under the SWA scheme, a supplement can be awarded to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. A single exceptional needs payment (ENP) may be made to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. An urgent needs payment (UNP) may be made to persons who may not normally qualify for SWA but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or an alternative is not available at that time. Decisions on ENPs, UNPs and SWA supplements 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.
Table 1 shows the number of Basic SWA and supplement recipients in Co Clare, at year end 2016-2021.
Table 2 shows the number of ENPs and UNPs issued in Co Clare, 2016-2021.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
Table 1: Number of Basic SWA and supplement recipients in Co Clare, at year end 2016-2021
Scheme
|
End of 2016
|
End of 2017
|
End of 2018
|
End of 2019
|
End of 2020
|
End of 2021
|
Basic SWA
|
260
|
342
|
197
|
186
|
111
|
115
|
Rent Supplement
|
423
|
177
|
114
|
54
|
132
|
61
|
Mortgage Interest Supplement
|
30
|
20
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Other Supplements
|
93
|
80
|
85
|
59
|
52
|
48
|
Table 2: Number of ENPs and UNPs issued in Co Clare, 2016-2021
-
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
Number of ENP/UNPs
|
2,233
|
3,126
|
4,559
|
2,494
|
1,777
|
1,271
|
Of which ENPs
|
2,229
|
3,126
|
4,488
|
2,484
|
1,763
|
1,264
|
Of which UNPs
|
4
|
0
|
71
|
10
|
14
|
7
|