Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 October 2016
142. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of supplementary welfare allowance applications received for each of the years 2012 to date in 2016 in tabular form; the number of supplementary welfare allowance applications that were successful for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31243/16]
View answerThe supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. The Government has provided €79.7 million for basic SWA in 2016.
Statistics are not available on the number of SWA applications received or the outcome of those applications.
The following table provides details of the number of basic SWA recipients at year end for 2012-2015 and at the end of September 2016.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance recipients 2012 to 2016
|
Year |
Number of Recipients |
|
2012 |
32,358 |
|
2013 |
23,127 |
|
2014 |
19,798 |
|
2015 |
16,092 |
|
2016 (End Sept) |
16,392 |
Note: Direct provision allowance recipients are included under Basic SWA until 2014.
