Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Mar 2001

Vol. 533 No. 4

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Noel Ahern

Question:

154 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the guideline figures made available to community welfare officers for payment of the standard special needs payments under the supplementary benefits scheme; if the £60 clothing and footwear allowance has been increased; if so, the effective date; and if movements in the standard allowance over the past five years can be traced. [9316/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Normal day to day clothing needs are expected to be met from weekly social welfare or health board payments. However, there is provision under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme to pay an exceptional needs payment (ENP) to people in certain circumstances who have clothing needs that they cannot be reasonably expected to meet from their weekly income.

In 1995 my Department issued guidelines to the health boards in relation to exceptional needs and urgent needs payments. The guidelines, which were published, were aimed at ensuring greater consistency of treatment of applications for ENPs both within and between the various health boards. Specific guidance was included on the type of circumstances where payment of an ENP may be made for replacement clothing and footwear. No payment rate was specified as community welfare officers are required to examine each case on its own individual merits.

The amount of an ENP payable to cover special clothing needs is a matter for the health boards and neither I nor my Department have any function in deciding individual cases or in providing guidelines on standardised amounts to be paid. I am aware, however, that many of the health boards have adopted standard maximum amounts of ENPs for special clothing needs. This is for administrative reasons and ensures that people with similar needs in similar circumstances are treated in a consistent and transparent manner. The health boards in the Eastern Regional Health Authority, for example, have set a standard maximum payment of £60 for ENPs issued to adults in respect of claims for assistance with special clothing needs. This amount was set in 1995 and has been increased to £100 since the beginning of this year. A number of other boards have also set similar standard amounts.

These internal health board guideline figures do not however restrict payment of an ENP to a specific rate where the boards consider that the circumstances of a particular case warrant the payment of a higher amount.