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Exceptional Needs Payment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020

Tuesday, 23 June 2020

Ceisteanna (822)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

822. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applicants and awards for an exceptional needs payment in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11881/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under the supplementary welfare allowance 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. An urgent needs payment (UNP) may be made to persons who may not normally qualify for supplementary welfare allowance but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or where an alternative is not available at that time.

The following tabular statement shows the number of payments made under the ENP and UNP scheme each year since 2016. Statistics are maintained relating to payments made. However, they are not maintained on the number of applications.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Year

Number of Payments

2016

100,100

2017

103,500

2018

112,500

2019

92,200

2020 (End of May)

30,000

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