Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2016
130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for an exceptional needs payment arising from funeral costs in each of the past 12 months; the number granted; the number refused; the number pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1399/16]
View answer166. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants for exceptional needs payments and the number approved in each of the past five years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1531/16]
View answer171. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of exceptional needs payments made to families in each of the past six years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1536/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 166 and 171 together.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department of Social Protection may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €30.3 million for the ENP scheme in 2016.
There is no automatic entitlement to a payment. The ENP scheme is demand-led and payments 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 in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
An application can be made under the ENP scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses. Relevant circumstances of the applicant and that of the deceased person including any savings, property, insurance policies, etc. are considered in determining an application for support towards funerals and burials. The Department official will also consider if a bereavement payment is available from any other source including former employer, credit union or trade union. Approximately 2,700 payments were made in 2015 in respect of funeral and burial costs at a cost of some €4.4 million.
Statistics are maintained relating to payments under the ENP scheme, however they are not maintained on the number of applications received or the outcome of those applications, or on the number of payments made to families. The number of ENP payments made in each of the past six years is contained in the tabular statement. Details of the number of ENP payments made in each of the past 12 months in relation to funeral and burial expenses is also contained in the tabular statement.
Number of ENP Payments for funeral and burial expenses from January to December 2015
|
Month |
Number of Payments |
|
January |
239 |
|
February |
288 |
|
March |
305 |
|
April |
240 |
|
May |
269 |
|
June |
230 |
|
July |
229 |
|
August |
186 |
|
September |
200 |
|
October |
168 |
|
November |
176 |
|
December |
168 |
|
Total |
2,698 |
Number of Exceptional Needs Payments for 2010 to 2015
|
Year |
Number of Payments |
|
2010 |
218,000 |
|
2011 |
226,200 |
|
2012 |
197,000 |
|
2013 |
133,000 |
|
2014 |
107,000 |
|
2015 |
96,000 |
