Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
654. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who have availed of an additional needs payment in the last quarter of this year and the same period in 2020 and 2024 respectively, in Cork city, by category of payment, in tabular form. [72114/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
Additional Needs Payments statistics are maintained on a county basis. Table 1 below shows the number of Additional Needs Payments issued, by category, in County Cork in Q3 in the years 2020, 2024 and 2025. Q3 statistics have been used in order to provide a like for like comparison, given that the last quarter is not yet available for 2025.
In addition, my Department publishes statistics on Additional Needs Payments in the Quarterly Statistics report which is available at [g]ov.ie
Any person who considers that 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. In addition, applications can be made online via [www.mywelfare.ie].
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Table 1 - The number of Additional Needs Payments issued, by category, in County Cork in Q3 in the years 2020, 2024 and 2025
|
Category |
Q3 2020 |
Q3 2024 |
Q4 2025 |
|
Bills |
25 |
71 |
94 |
|
Child Related |
26 |
38 |
33 |
|
Clothing |
207 |
370 |
283 |
|
Funeral |
62 |
64 |
72 |
|
General |
353 |
338 |
301 |
|
Housing |
448 |
512 |
547 |
|
Illness |
4 |
7 |
3 |
|
Urgent Needs Payment |
4 |
5 |
18 |
|
Other Supplements |
|
1 |
1 |
|
Grand Total |
1,129 |
1,406 |
1,352 |
