Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 November 2015
54. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the annual cost of increasing the jobseeker's allowance to €188 for all recipients under 26 years of age who are currently in receipt of the €144 rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41942/15]
View answerThe cost of increasing the weekly rate of Jobseeker's Allowance to €188 for all recipients under 26 years of age who are currently in receipt of the €144 rate is almost €12 million in a full year.
Jobseeker’s allowance recipients who are in receipt of the maximum personal rate of €144 per week may benefit from two of the measures I recently announced in the Budget. Firstly, all jobseeker’s allowance recipients, including those under 26, who have been unemployed for 15 months or more will benefit from the 75% Christmas Bonus payment. A single young unemployed jobseeker in receipt of the €100 rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance for 15 months will receive a Christmas bonus payment of €75, while a person in receipt of the €144 rate for 15 months will receive €108.
In addition, those who are eligible for the Fuel Allowance will gain from the increase in January of €2.50 per week, from €20 to €22.50 per week over the fuel season.
