Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 October 2014
12. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if exceptional needs payments are granted to persons to assist with setting up home when allocated local authority houses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38875/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra13. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide guidelines in relation to exceptional needs payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38876/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 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 €31.3 million for the ENP scheme in 2014.
A review of the guidelines on exceptional needs payments was carried out during 2012 by a working group of staff from the Department's community welfare service. One of the recommendations emanating from this review was to address the different approaches taken, in different areas, to the payment of ENPs. This review has been used as a basis for revised guidelines that issued to staff in 2012 and 2013, recommending maximum amounts payable under the scheme for a variety of household and personal items, to ensure consistency with regard to payment levels on a national basis including assistance in setting up home in local authority allocated housing. A copy of these guidelines has been provided to the Deputy.
Traditionally local authorities have provided social housing to tenants on an unfurnished basis and it was the responsibility of the tenant to furnish the property. These units were by and large units either built or purchased by local authorities. Where a tenant cannot furnish such a property from within his/her own resources he/she can apply for an exceptional needs payment to assist them in furnishing the property.
The provision of local authority housing has been refocused toward providing accommodation by way of leasing. It is not considered appropriate that ENPs would be provided for furnishing local authority leased accommodation.
There is no automatic entitlement to a payment or pre-determined amounts under the scheme. 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 guidelines assist Departmental staff and do not limit the discretionary powers available to officers administering the scheme to assist an individual or household in any particular hardship situation which may arise. Officials in the Department continue to review the issue of payments under the ENP scheme to ensure consistency and fairness.
