Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2018
573. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if provision will be made for emergency payments in cases of extreme hardship by way of exceptional needs payment or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8809/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra576. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for exceptional needs payment pending or refused in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8812/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 573 and 576 together.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Department may make an urgent needs payment (UNP) to a person who may not normally qualify for SWA but who has an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or an alternative is not available at that time. The Government has provided over €36.4 million for ENPs and UNPs in 2018.
The ENP scheme is demand led and payments are made 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 legislation does not confer a statutory right or entitlement to ENPs. The guidelines issued to staff administering the ENP scheme assist them in the decision making process. The principal consideration in making a payment under the ENP scheme is to address a particular once-off and exceptional need. The guidelines do not affect the discretion available to officers in issuing an ENP to assist an individual or household in any particular hardship situation which may arise, so that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
Statistics are maintained relating to payments under the ENP and UNP schemes, however they are not maintained on the number of applications or the outcome of those applications. There were over 103,000 ENPs and UNPs issued under the scheme in 2017.
If the Deputy has concerns in respect of a particular case he should bring it to the attention of the Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
