Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 May 2022
301. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of exceptional needs payments that were provided due to domestic or gender-based violence per month to date 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25477/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications for Exceptional Needs Payments are made under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) Scheme administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service in my Department.
The purpose of the Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) scheme is to assist people with essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure that a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The ENP scheme is 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.
The application and decision making process does not collect statistical information from the applicant in terms of whether they are a victim of domestic or gender based violence.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an exceptional or urgent needs payment is encouraged to contact their local Intreo Centre. There is a National Intreo Contact Centre in place - 0818-405060 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
