Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013
477. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of people in receipt of the special funeral grant in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the current number in receipt broken down by county; the total costs of the payment in 2010, 2011 and estimated total costs in 2012; her plans for the future of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5757/13]
View answerUnder the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to a payment. ENPs are payable 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 in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. The Government has provided €47.6m for the scheme in 2013.
Application can be made under the scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses. A table detailing the available statistics in relation to assistance for these expenses is as follows for the Deputy’s information. Statistics are not collated on a county basis.
With regard to my future plans for these payments, I have no plans to amend the ENP scheme with regard to entitlement to funeral or burial expenses at this time. Any persons who consider that they have an entitlement to an ENP under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme should contact the local officials administering the scheme.
Table: Expenditure and Payments on funeral expenses under Exceptional Needs Payment 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
|
- |
- |
Funeral Expenses |
- |
Burial Expenses |
- |
Total |
|
Year |
Number of Payments |
€0 |
Number of Payments |
€0 |
Number of Payments |
€0 |
|
2010 |
N/A |
4,790 |
N/A |
560 |
N/A |
5,350 |
|
2011 |
3,740 |
5,120 |
230 |
370 |
3,970 |
5,490 |
|
2012[1] |
3,530 |
4,860 |
230 |
330 |
3,760 |
5,190 |
|
2013[1] |
330 |
20 |
350 |
[1] Provisional
As at 1 February 2013.
