Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
911. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial assistance, for maintenance and care related costs and so on, available to those who are vision impaired and have a guide dog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57166/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Welfare Service (CWS) in my Department provides a range of supports under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme. These supports can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as a single Additional Needs Payment (ANP).
An ANP can be made to help meet expenses that an eligible 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 a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. ANPs are awarded at the discretion of the Community Welfare Officers administering the scheme considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case. A person must provide personal, financial, household, and other information in support of their claim to determine eligibility and to establish a need arising.
If the Deputy is aware of a specific case in which a person is experiencing financial difficulties, he can provide the person’s details to the Community Welfare Service email address for Oireachtas members at TDREPSCWS@welfare.ie so that my officials can send an application pack.
ANPs are not intended to cover circumstances where another Government Department or Agency has a primary responsibility. A person who is blind or visually impaired, can claim a tax credit if they own a trained guide dog. The Guide Dog Allowance is an annual allowance of €825 at the standard 20% rate of Income Tax (equal to a tax credit of €16). The allowance is administered by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.
