Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2017
550. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of reinstating the full payment of €193 for those aged under 26 in receipt of jobseeker's allowance, supplementary welfare allowance and the back to education allowance. [13844/17]
View answer560. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing family income supplement by 10%. [13855/17]
View answer562. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the living alone allowance by €10 per month. [13857/17]
View answer565. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing carer's allowance and carer's benefit by €3, €5 and €7. [13860/17]
View answer572. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing disability allowance by €5, €10 and €20. [14033/17]
View answer573. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the respite care grant by €100, €250 and €325. [14034/17]
View answer574. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of extending the fuel allowance payment by three weeks and by five weeks. [14035/17]
View answer577. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the blind pension payment by €2, €5 and €10. [14038/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 550, 560, 562, 565, 572 to 574, inclusive, and 577 together.
In Budget 2017, I was pleased to increase the rate of Back to Education Allowance for those on age-related reduced rates of payment to €193 per week. This change will come into effect from the academic year commencing in September. The cost of increasing the reduced weekly rates of €102.70 and €147.80, which are payable to recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance and Supplementary Welfare Allowance under 26 years of age, to the maximum rate of €193 per week is estimated at €117.4 million in a full year.
The cost of increasing Family Income Supplement by 10% is estimated at €42.2 million in a full year.
The cost of increasing the Living Alone Allowance by €10 per month (weekly equivalent of €2.31) is estimated at €23.6 million in a full year.
The full year cost of increasing Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit by €3, €5 and €7 per week is estimated at €8.5 million, €14.2 million and €19.9 million, respectively.
The full year cost of increasing Disability Allowance by €5, €10 and €20 per week is estimated at €35.1 million, €70.1 million and €140.3 million, respectively.
The full year cost of increasing the annual Carer’s Support Grant by €100, €250 and €325 is estimated at €9.9 million, €24.6 million and €32.0 million, respectively.
The estimated full year cost of extending the duration of the fuel season by three weeks and five weeks is €26.4 million and €44 million, respectively.
The full year cost of increasing Blind Pension by €2, €5 and €10 week is estimated at €0.14 million, €0.35 million and €0.71 million, respectively.
These costs include the cost of proportionate increases for qualified adults, and those on reduced rates of payment, where applicable. 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 2018.
