Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
2036. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he and his Department have plans to develop a scheme to subsidise the travel, accommodation, food and childcare costs for families with children in hospital; if so, the estimated cost of such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44120/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that there are no specific proposals within my Department at present for the development of a scheme of financial assistance for parents in the circumstances referred to by the Deputy. However, under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, administered by the Department of Social Protection, a person may be eligible to apply for an Exceptional Needs Payment to help meet essential, one-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
