I propose to take Questions Nos. 526, 530 and 554 together.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance 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. 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. Government has provided €44.2 million for the exceptional and urgent needs schemes in 2020.
The ENP and UNP schemes are 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.
Statistics are maintained relating to payments made; however they are not maintained on the number of applications. The tabular statement below shows the monthly expenditure and number of payments made to the end of August 2020 on ENPs and UNPs. Also shown is the number of payments made under the ENP and UNP scheme each year since 2016.
The Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment was paid under UNP legislation from its introduction in March 2020 until 5 August 2020 when it was placed on a separate legislative basis. Covid 19 pandemic unemployment payments are not included in the figures.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an ENP or UNP should contact my Department's Community Welfare Service. My Department has established an Income Support Line - 1890 800 024 – which can be used by customers at this time to contact the Department. Staff can advise them of how to make an application for assistance from the Department.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputies.
Monthly Expenditure for ENPs and UNPs for January to August 2020
Month
|
ENP expenditure
|
No. of ENPs
|
UNP expenditure
|
No. of UNPs
|
January
|
€3,422,749
|
7,625
|
€10,785
|
40
|
February
|
€3,971,287
|
7,367
|
€12,365
|
24
|
March
|
€4,000,928
|
6,662
|
€25,963
|
63
|
April
|
€2,269,856
|
3,821
|
€79,185
|
173
|
May
|
€2,552,845
|
4,021
|
€93,779
|
169
|
June
|
€3,231,389
|
4,989
|
€80,013
|
159
|
July
|
€3,555,210
|
5,551
|
€60,437
|
108
|
August
|
€2,962,264
|
4,614
|
€30,082
|
83
|
Number of ENP and UNP payments made 2015-2019
Year
|
Number of Payments
|
2015
|
101,600
|
2016
|
100,100
|
2017
|
103,500
|
2018
|
112,500
|
2019
|
92,200
|
Note: These figures are taken from the Department’s ENP database and represent a snapshot of the ENPs as they are approved by an officer rather than when they are paid. Please note the figures do not capture payments that are cancelled, payments that go out of date or overpayments recouped.