Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
486. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if urgent assistance will be provided to a person (details supplied) towards payment of a bill for a funeral; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28027/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is to assist people with essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which 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.
Applications for ENPs are made under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service in my Department.
My Departments’ records reflect there is no record of an ENP application registered for the person concerned. For convenience an ENP application pack has issued by post to the person concerned. On receipt of the completed application form and all relevant supporting documentation, the application will be assessed by a Designated Person and the person concerned will be advised of the outcome in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
