Average welfare payment for communion €303

THE AVERAGE payment made to families by community welfare officers to spend on First Holy Communion and Confirmation outfits last year was more than €300 in the greater Dublin area, figures just released show.

Some 5,616 “exceptional needs” payments of an average €303 were made to families in the old eastern health board area in 2011, totalling €1.7 million. The lowest average payment of €189 was made in the northeast, to 1,334 families, totalling €0.25 million.

The figures emerged as part of a review of exceptional needs payments for religious occasions last year.

The review was carried out by welfare officers on their transfer from the health boards to the Department of Social Protection. They found €3.4 million was paid out for religious occasions such as Holy Communion and Confirmation outfits.

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton announced yesterday the maximum special needs payment for such occasions would be reduced to €110.

Speaking on RTÉ radio's News At Oneyesterday, Ms Burton said an exceptional needs payment was intended for circumstances that could not have been foreseen.

Former community welfare officers are now called social welfare officers. Ms Burton said they would retain discretionary powers and where there was an unforeseen occasion or an emergency these would be “attended to”.

While more than 5,000 payments for Holy Communion and Confirmation were made in Dublin last year, just 25 were made in the northwestern health board area covering Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim, where Ms Burton said there was not the same tradition as in eastern counties of having extravagant Communions and Confirmations.

In the southeast, 1,944 payments averaging €213 were made. In the midwest, payments averaged €194; in the northeast, €189; in the south, €217; in the west, €219; in the midlands, €196; and in the northwest, €223.

In a statement yesterday the Irish Bishops’ Conference said “simplicity” should characterise social celebrations so the “faith significance” of sacraments was not lost.

“Bishops, priests and schools are very concerned about the cost issue facing parents with children for First Holy Communion and/or Confirmation and have discussed this matter in parishes.

“If the emphasis for sacramental preparation is placed on commercially related concerns, rather than on the spiritual significance of the sacrament, then it is not a good preparation for Catholic children,” the bishops said.