Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
754. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of additional needs payments awarded to persons aged 18-25 and to persons aged over 66 in each of the years 2022 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29718/26]
View answerThe Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Under the scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income.
Table 1 below shows the number of Additional Needs Payments awarded to persons aged 18-25 and to persons aged over 66, in each of the years 2022 to 2025, based on the age of the recipient at year end.
My Department also publishes quarterly statistics on Additional Needs Payments in the Quarterly Statistics report, which is available on gov.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Table 1 - Additional Needs Payments awarded to persons aged 18-25 and to persons aged over 66, in each of the years 2022 to 2025
|
Age Category |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
18 - 25 |
10,003 |
9,880 |
11,959 |
9,707 |
|
Over 66 |
7,743 |
7,865 |
5,337 |
4,277 |
