Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation
Dail Éireann — 2022-02-24
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Leo Varadkar (FG), Dublin West

We have given that issue some consideration. It has been discussed with the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys. Her view, which I agree with, is that the existing community welfare service is the service that we should continue to use to issue exceptional needs payments. It does not require a separate fund because there is already a fund for exceptional needs payments which is worth around €40 million a year. It is not capped or budget limited but demand led. I encourage people who have a genuine need who are struggling to pay a utility bill to engage with their community welfare officer. Exceptional needs payments can be made and there is no cap on the budget.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2022-02-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:50:11+00:00
Sitting date: 2022-02-24