An exceptional needs payment may be made by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which it administers on my behalf, to assist with funeral costs. An exceptional needs payment can be made towards any exceptional, unforeseen and non-recurring expense which a person is unable to meet from his or her own resources. In the situation cited, the person with responsibility for meeting the funeral costs would apply to his or her local community welfare officer for assistance, if necessary, towards those costs.
There is no automatic entitlement to an exceptional needs payment and the community welfare service makes a decision on each application on its merits. Neither I nor my Department has any role in determining entitlement in individual cases.
It is unlikely that a person in the situation cited by the Deputy would have the necessary social insurance contributions to enable a bereavement grant to be payable to his or her next of kin or personal representative.