Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 May 2019
154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of exceptional need requests submitted in each of the past 12 months; the extent to which all have been determined in order with the request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23127/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to a payment under this scheme. 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. 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 where an alternative is not available at that time. In total €38.8 million has been provided for exceptional and urgent needs payments in 2019.
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. The following tabular statement shows the number of ENPs and UNPs made in each of the previous 12 months to end April 2019.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement
Number of Exceptional Needs Payments and Urgent Needs Payments between May 2018-April 2019:
|
Month |
Number of Payments (rounded) |
|
May 2018 |
9,200 |
|
June 2018 |
8,000 |
|
July 2018 |
9,000 |
|
August 2018 |
9,900 |
|
September 2018 |
9,000 |
|
October 2018 |
13,300 |
|
November 2018 |
11,500 |
|
December 2018 |
9,200 |
|
January 2019 |
9,400 |
|
February 2019 |
7,600 |
|
March 2019 |
7,800 |
|
April 2019 |
7,300 |
