Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Nov 1993

Vol. 435 No. 6

Ceisteanna — Questions Written Answers. - Christmas Bonus.

Michael Bell

Question:

36 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the categories of people engaged in FÁS courses who were on social welfare benefit who will or will not qualify for Christmas bonus and who would have qualified for the Christmas bonus if they had not opted for a FÁS course.

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

Participants on FÁS training courses who were in receipt of long term unemployment assistance before the commencement of their training and who would have qualified for the Christmas bonus paid by the Department of Social Welfare had they remained on the live register and in receipt of unemployment assistance are eligible to receive a comparable bonus from FÁS.

Participants on the social employment scheme are paid allowances which are in excess of their social welfare entitlements and the differential is intended to compensate them for the loss of secondary social welfare benefits such as the Christmas bonus.

In the case of the Community Employment Development Programme which operates in the 12 partnership areas designated under theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress, participants who would have been entitled to the Christmas bonus had they remained on the live register are paid the Christmas bonus by the Department of Social Welfare.