Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 July 2018
552. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason there is no contractual undertaker in counties Sligo or Leitrim to help persons who are experiencing financial hardship with burial costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31345/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra553. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to bring some consistency to the payments that are available for persons under a financial burden due to a bereavement, namely the exceptional needs payment and supplementary welfare assistance towards funeral expenses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31346/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 552 and 553 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 Government has provided over €36 million for exceptional and urgent needs payments in 2018.
An ENP is a means tested payment 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.
An application can be made under the ENP scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses where there is an inability to pay these costs, in part or in full, by the family of the deceased person without causing hardship. In 2017 almost 2,800 ENPs were paid at a cost of €5.1 million towards funeral and burial expenses, of which 63 were paid to persons in Counties Leitrim and Sligo, at a cost of some €102,000. The figures up to the end of June 2018 are 1,500 payments nationally at a cost of €2.9 million, with 24 of those being paid in Counties Leitrim and Sligo at a cost of almost €42,000.
The Department does not procure goods or services under the ENP scheme. Payment of an ENP is made to the customer to meet a particular need but can be nominated to the supplier of goods or services with the permission of the customer. The contractual relationship is, however, between the customer and the supplier, and not the Department.
ENP guidelines issued to staff in 2012 and 2013 have contributed to more streamlined and consistent approaches being taken to applications across the country. These guidelines assist Departmental staff administering the scheme and 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.
In May 2018 my Department issued updated guidance for staff specifically in relation to assistance with funeral and burial expenses, as well as a new application form which is available on www.welfare.ie.
I am satisfied that the current ENP scheme is an adequate response to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
Any persons who consider that they have an entitlement to assistance with funeral expenses under the ENP scheme should contact my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
