I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 408 together.
Under 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 considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
Table 1 provides a breakdown of the number of ANP claims awarded by county, in 2022.
Table 2 provides a breakdown of the number ANP claims awarded to those aged under 25, by county, in 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 - The number of ANP claims awarded by county, in 2022.
County
|
Awarded
|
Carlow
|
1,282
|
Cavan
|
1,526
|
Clare
|
3,686
|
Cork
|
7,840
|
Donegal
|
5,164
|
Dublin
|
25,171
|
Galway
|
3,685
|
Kerry
|
5,219
|
Kildare
|
2,491
|
Kilkenny
|
1,969
|
Laois
|
1,854
|
Leitrim
|
1,498
|
Limerick
|
3,639
|
Longford
|
2,316
|
Louth
|
2,409
|
Mayo
|
2,924
|
Meath
|
4,346
|
Monaghan
|
802
|
Offaly
|
2,358
|
Roscommon
|
1,173
|
Sligo
|
1,758
|
Tipperary
|
3,411
|
Waterford
|
2,333
|
Westmeath
|
3,144
|
Wexford
|
2,386
|
Wicklow
|
2,817
|
Unknown
|
23
|
Total
|
97,224
|
Table 2 - The number ANP claims awarded to those aged under 25, by county, in 2022,
County
|
Awarded
|
Carlow
|
123
|
Cavan
|
85
|
Clare
|
311
|
Cork
|
557
|
Donegal
|
381
|
Dublin
|
2,577
|
Galway
|
373
|
Kerry
|
515
|
Kildare
|
190
|
Kilkenny
|
154
|
Laois
|
189
|
Leitrim
|
61
|
Limerick
|
259
|
Longford
|
150
|
Louth
|
177
|
Mayo
|
217
|
Meath
|
279
|
Monaghan
|
72
|
Offaly
|
183
|
Roscommon
|
87
|
Sligo
|
136
|
Tipperary
|
245
|
Waterford
|
185
|
Westmeath
|
388
|
Wexford
|
154
|
Wicklow
|
203
|
Unknown
|
2
|
Total
|
8,253
|