Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 November 2017
55. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the qualifying conditions for exceptional needs payments have changed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50499/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra67. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications made under the exceptional needs payments in 2016; the percentage of these applications awarded and declined, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50583/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 67 together.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department 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 ENP scheme is demand led and provides assistance to those with exceptional needs 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. This position has not changed. The legislation does not confer a statutory right or entitlement to ENPs. The principal consideration in making a payment under the ENP scheme is to address a particular once-off and exceptional need which is not of an expected or recurring nature. Discretion is available to officers to issue a payment to assist an individual or household in any particular hardship situation which may arise.
While statistics are maintained relating to payments under the ENP scheme, they are not maintained on the number of applications or the outcome of those applications. Some 100,000 ENPs issued in 2016 at a total cost of €32.2 million. For reporting purposes this data also includes the numbers of urgent needs payments (UNP). A UNP is a once-off payment made to persons who would not normally qualify for SWA but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or an alternative is not available at that time.
Any persons who consider that they have an entitlement to an ENP should contact my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
