Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Exceptional Needs Payment Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019

Tuesday, 15 January 2019

Ceisteanna (1058)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

1058. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for the exceptional needs payment each month in 2018; the number granted, refused and appealed, respectively, by month; the number, if appealed, that were successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54241/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the 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 €38.8 million for ENPs and UNPs in 2019. An urgent needs payment (UNP) may be made to persons who may 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.

Reviews of ENP decisions are carried out by review officers within the community welfare service. Statistics are maintained relating to payments under the ENP and UNP schemes; however, they are not maintained on the number of applications, the outcome of those applications, the number of reviews or the outcomes of those reviews.

The tabular statement below shows the number of ENP and UNP payments that issued each month in 2018.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Tabular Statement: Number of ENP and UNP payments made in 2018

Month

Number of Payments

Jan

8,379

Feb

8,390

Mar

8,250

Apr

8,290

May

9,191

Jun

8,047

Jul

8,976

Aug

9,918

Sep

8,992

Oct

13,335

Nov

11,510

Dec

9,236

Total

112,514

Barr
Roinn