292. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for an additional needs payment in Cork, by reason, in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [54171/26]

Under 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 or other personal and household resources.  This also includes supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.

The main items eligible for assistance under the scheme include help with utility bills, repairs to or replacement of household appliances, clothing, child related items such as cots and prams, assistance with funerals or burial costs, and travel costs.

The reporting of the scheme was revised in 2022 to extract more complete information.  Statistics on the number of Additional Needs Payments registered are not available for 2021.

Table 1 in the tabular statement below shows the number of Additional Needs Payments registered from 2022 to 2024 inclusive, and to end of June 2026 in County Cork.

My Department also publishes statistics on Additional Needs Payments in the Quarterly Statistics report, which is available on gov.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.

Tabular Statement

Table 1 - Additional Needs Payments registered for 2022-2024, and to end of June 2026 in County Cork