COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL PROTECTION:MINISTER FOR Social Protection Eamon Ó Cuív has rejected allegations that community welfare officers (CWOs) are "cracking down" on people seeking emergency welfare payments.

Mr Ó Cuív was speaking at a Dáil committee as it emerged the department spent €25 million less on “exceptional needs” payments this year than it budgeted for.

Exceptional needs payments are made to people in immediate need of emergency money. CWOs have some discretion in deciding to make such a payment.

The Select Committee on Social Protection heard the department spent €75 million on exceptional needs payments last year and budgeted to spend €90 million this year. So far, €60 million has been spent. The committee was discussing the supplementary estimate for the department. It is seeking an additional €350 million to the end of the year.

The main reason for the supplementary estimate, said the Minister, was lower than expected income from PRSI contributions.

Róisín Shortall, Labour’s spokeswoman on social protection, asked how a reduction in exceptional needs spending was possible “when the St Vincent de Paul can’t keep up with demands. Is there some kind of crackdown by your department?”

Michael Ring, Fine Gael spokesman on social protection, said there were CWOs who saw themselves as guardians of the public purse and who acted “like God”. Mr Ó Cuív said there was “certainly no directive” from his department that CWOs should reduce exceptional spending.