Vol. 484 No. 4
98 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of people in County Meath who are on disability benefit allowance from his Department; the reason they have not been included in the Government Christmas bonus scheme; the amount it would cost to include these people; and if he will have this decision rescinded. [22416/97]
At the end of September 1997, there were 1,100 recipients of disability benefit and 900 recipients of disability allowance —formerly disabled person's maintenance allowance —in County Meath.
Recipients of long-term disability allowance did receive a Christmas bonus last week. Disability benefit is a short-term payment and, as such, does not attract a Christmas bonus.
To extend the Christmas bonus to people in receipt of disability benefit for a period of 12 months or more would cost in the region of £1.2 million.
The extension of the Christmas bonus to recipients of short-term schemes would add significantly to the costs involved and would have to be examined in the context of overall budgetary considerations.
