Review of special-payment guidelines
McCarthy asked whether rigid guidelines for exceptional supplementary welfare payments would be reviewed. Hussey recalled that a review may have begun or been planned and undertook to check.
Would the Minister consider reviewing the guidelines for payment of supplementary welfare allowances? The once off special payment made in exceptional circumstances for essentials such as furniture, building, cooking apparatus and such is a very rigid type of guideline. Are there any plans in mind to make this kind of exceptional payment more flexible?
Comment on this
I am sorry that I cannot be more definite for the Deputy. I seem to recall that a review has been or is about to be, started on guidelines but I could not speak ex cathedra in case I am proved to be wrong. I shall look into the matter for the Deputy.
