Tony Gregory
Ceist:259 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will review an appeal decision against a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23018/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 30 September 2004
Ceisteanna (257)
Freagraí scríofa
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards, provides for exceptional needs payments to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of his or her weekly income.
The Northern Area Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that the person concerned applied for assistance in respect of a rent deposit. His application was refused on the ground that in the opinion of the board the circumstances of the case did not warrant the issuing of an exceptional needs payment. The board has further advised that the person concerned was unsuccessful in his appeal against this decision.
The determination of entitlement to exceptional needs payments is a matter for the health board and neither I nor my Department has any function in deciding entitlement in individual cases.