Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1105. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of exceptional needs payments in relation to help with fuel bills that have been made in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29546/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1106. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of exceptional needs payments in relation to help with funeral bills that have been made in each the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29547/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1107. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of exceptional needs payments that have been made in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29548/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1108. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on exceptional needs payments in relation to help in all cases in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29549/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1105, 1106, 1107 and 1108 together.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. An Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is a single payment 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 €45.75 million for the exceptional and urgent needs schemes in 2022.
The scheme is demand led. 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.
Table 1 shows the number of ENP/UNP payments paid 2016 to 2022.
Table 2 show the total expenditure on ENPs/UNPs from 2016 to 2022.
Table 3 shows the number of ENPs paid towards funeral expenses from 2016 to 2022.
Table 4 shows the number of ENPs paid towards heating and household bills from 2016 to 2022.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Table 1- Number of ENP/UNPs paid 2016-2022
|
Year |
Number of Payments |
|
2016 |
100,107 |
|
2017 |
103,454 |
|
2018 |
112,514 |
|
2019 |
92,198 |
|
2020 |
67,589 |
|
2021 |
55,552 |
|
2022 (to end of April) |
18,927 |
Table 2 – Total expenditure on ENPs/UNPs 2016-2022
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2016 |
32.2m |
|
2017 |
38.1m |
|
2018 |
42.3m |
|
2019 |
43.2m |
|
2020 |
41.0m |
|
2021 |
42.4m |
|
2022 (to end of April) |
12.4m |
Table 3 – The number of ENPs paid towards funeral expenses from 2016 to 2022
|
Year |
Number of Payments |
|
2016 |
2,937 |
|
2017 |
2,786 |
|
2018 |
2,881 |
|
2019 |
2,905 |
|
2020 |
2,788 |
|
2021 |
2,445 |
|
2022 (to end of April) |
900 |
Table 4 – The number of ENPs paid towards heating and household bills from 2016 to 2022
|
Year |
Number of Payments |
|
2016 |
3,537 |
|
2017 |
3,036 |
|
2018 |
3,521 |
|
2019 |
3,012 |
|
2020 |
2,242 |
|
2021 |
2,357 |
|
2022 (to end of April) |
1,001 |
Note: These figures in tables 1, 3 and 4 are taken from the Department’s ENP/UNP database and represent a snapshot of the ENPs/UNPs 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.
