Social Welfare Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 June 2015

Thursday, 18 June 2015

Questions (51, 52)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

51. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the estimated full year cost of a €1 increase in the living alone allowance. [24396/15]

Billy Kelleher

Question:

52. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the estimated full year cost of restoring the respite grant to the level it was prior to the 2013 budget. [24397/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 52 together.

The estimated full year cost of increasing the Living Alone Allowance by €1 per week is €9.9 million.

The estimated full year cost of increasing the Respite Care Grant to €1,700 per annum is €29.4 million.

It should be noted that these costings are subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2016.