Part of the Government's response to the cost-of-living crisis to date has been supports available through the local community welfare officer. However, the figures speak for themselves and we have seen a fall in the number of exceptional needs and urgent needs payments made. In the period 2016 to 2019, there were between 90,000 payments to over 100,000 payments made. Last year it was 55,000 and to date it has been about 18,000 payments. This should be a cause of concern, especially the figure for heating and household bills with about 1,000 payments made in the first four months of this year. That should be ringing alarm bells. I welcome it is now an additional needs payment - that seems to be a change on the Department's website - with income limits.

It is very helpful and I welcome that. I ask that this be advertised. Could this support also be put online? I spoke with a women in her 50s last week who is a lone parent who has worked all of her life. She does not want to go to the local community welfare officer in person. Given that online services are available for the Department of Social Protection, and given that these emergency payments are going to be needed in the weeks and months ahead, could that be brought online?

I thank Deputy Kerrane for raising this matter. One of the reasons we have seen the reduction in these payments being made over the past number of years is because there are more people working. More than 2.5 million people are working in the State, which is the highest we have ever had. That said, there are people who still need to access support by the State and the supports are there. As for making sure that people know about them, I have listened. There have been advertising campaigns on radio, which I am sure the Deputy has also heard. The Deputy's specific point is well made, however, with regard to others who may not have access to technology and so on. I will speak directly with the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, on the Deputy's behalf.