The Department of Social Protection has received 75,000 applications for emergency social welfare payments this year, as many families struggle amid the cost of living crisis.
In the Dail on Wednesday, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys confirmed that 75,000 applications for emergency additional needs payments were processed and awarded. She said: "This represents a 63% increase in awarded applications compared to the same period in 2021.
"We have already paid an additional €46 million in additional needs payments so far this year, and it's important to say that some of this payment can be attributed to the response to support families arriving from Ukraine. Generally speaking where it is clear that a person has an immediate need every effort is made to ensure that they receive the payment on the same day," added Minister Humphreys.
