Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1073. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the total budget allocated to the additional needs payment; if she will provide a breakdown of the total amount of the budget allocated from the scheme for assistance with costs of home heating oil, electricity, gas, petrol and diesel to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42304/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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 and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
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 Government has provided funding of €45.75 million for the provision of exceptional and urgent needs that are provided for as Additional Needs Payment in 2022. The scheme is demand led and is not capped.
A further provision of €4.3 million has been provided for SWA Supplements in 2022 (excluding rent supplement).
To end of August 2022, over 2,600 additional needs payments totaling over €1.1m were made to assist with household bills and heating costs. A Heating Supplement may also be paid to assist people with exceptional heating costs due to ill health who cannot meet those costs. There are over 970 persons receiving this supplement.
Payments are not categorised specifically in relation to assistance for petrol or diesel but assistance totaling over €375,000 has been provided for travel expenses under the ENP scheme to end of August 2022. In addition there are approximately 230 customers in receipt of travel supplement.
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.
