Almost 500 people in the Shannonside region were given emergency social welfare funding in the first three months of this year. They got the additional needs payments from the department. The Department of Social Protection has a scheme that pays people extra money to meet essential expenses they can't afford. These are called the Additional Needs Payments.
They're no set rate, as it depends on your weekly income and the type of help you need. Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary says this was paid to 14,262 people are the country in the first three months of this year. Some got money to help them with bills, clothing, funerals and illnesses. 167 people in Roscommon were awarded the payment between January and March, along with 107 in Leitrim, and 192 in Longford.
