Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013
608. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of people in receipt of the special funeral grant; the current number in receipt broken down by county; the total costs of the payment in 2010, 2011, 2012 and the estimated total costs in 2013; her plans for the future of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34887/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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 such a payment. ENPs are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme. In making decisions, these officers take 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 over €47 million 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 included for the Deputy’s information. Statistics are not collated on a county basis by the Department. Any person who consider that they have an entitlement to an ENP under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme should contact the local officials administering the scheme. With regard to my future plans for these payments, any changes to the scheme will be considered in a budgetary context.
Expenditure and Payments on Funeral and Burial Expenses under Exceptional Needs Payment 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013
|
Year |
Number of Payments |
€000 |
Number of Payments |
€000 |
Number of Payments |
€000 |
|
2010 |
N/A |
4,790 |
N/A |
560 |
N/A |
5,350 |
|
2011 |
3,740 |
5,120 |
230 |
370 |
3,970 |
5,490 |
|
2012 |
3,530 |
4,840 |
230 |
330 |
3,760 |
5,170 |
|
2013* |
1,720 |
2,230 |
90 |
140 |
1,810 |
2,380 |
*As at 5 July 2013
