Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2022
452. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of exceptional needs’ payments under the supplementary welfare allowance paid in each month; the total and individual value of each payment; and the total expenditure by category and month from January 2021 to October 2022, inclusive in tabular form. [57610/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.
The schemes are 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.
While it is not currently possible to show the payment value for each individual Exceptional Needs Payment (ENPs) and Urgent Needs Payment (UNPs) paid for the time in question, tables 1 and 2 show the breakdown by category of the number and total expenditure of ENPs and UNPs paid in 2021 and to date for the end of September 2022. The Department is developing the statistical output of this scheme to provide a standard reference point for the future dissemination of these figures.
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.
Tabular Statement
Table 1 - The number by category of ENPs and UNPs paid in 2021 and to end of September 2022
|
Bills |
Child related |
Clothing |
Funeral |
General |
Housing |
Illness |
Urgent Need payments |
Total |
|
|
2021 |
1,640 |
2,055 |
8,738 |
2,445 |
13,728 |
25,335 |
1,278 |
333 |
55,552 |
|
End of September 2022 |
2,183 |
1,574 |
27,320 |
1,994 |
15,010 |
16,511 |
882 |
449 |
65,923 |
Table 2 - The total expenditure by category of ENPs and UNPs paid in 2021 and to end of September 2022
|
Bills |
Child Related |
Clothing |
Funeral |
General |
Housing |
Illness |
Urgent Needs Payment |
Total |
|
|
2021 |
€1,169,394 |
€321,953 |
€1,065,542 |
€5,085,441 |
€2,984,784 |
€30,804,113 |
€184,270 |
€195,176 |
€41,809.673 |
|
End of September 2022 |
€1,298,388 |
€264,560 |
€3,972,217 |
€4,904,054 |
€4,348,849 |
€24,554,843 |
€135,624 |
€325,563 |
€39,804,095 |
Note: These figures are taken from the Department's ENP/UNP database and represent a snapshot of ENPs/UNPs as they are approved by an officer rather than when they are paid. The figures do not capture payments that are cancelled, payments that go out of date or overpayments recouped and therefore will not reconcile with the end of year outturn figures.
