Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 June 2018
265. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full cost of increasing the weekly State pension by €5 per week to build towards achieving the commitment in the national pensions framework of a State pension set at 35% of average weekly earnings. [28433/18]
View answer266. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full cost of ensuring the final 15% of the Christmas bonus is restored as a double week payment for Christmas 2019 for all social welfare recipients. [28434/18]
View answer267. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full cost of increasing the living alone allowance by €3 per week. [28435/18]
View answer268. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full cost of increasing the over-80s allowance by €2 per week. [28436/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 265 to 268, inclusive, together.
The full year cost of increasing all weekly pension payments by €5 per week is estimated to be €160.9 million in 2019. This cost includes the following schemes: State Pension Contributory; Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension (where recipient is aged 66 and over); Deserted Wives Benefit (where recipient is aged 66 and over); Death Benefit Pension (where recipient is aged 66 and over); State Pension Non-Contributory and Carer’s Allowance (where recipient is aged 66 and over).
Last December, an 85% Bonus was paid to some 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed, at a cost of €218.6 million. The cost of a 100% Bonus is estimated at circa €257 million in 2018. As was the case in previous years where a Bonus was subsequently paid (2014 to 2017 inclusive), there is no provision in the 2018 Revised Estimates for the payment (at any rate) of a Christmas Bonus in 2018. Any decision taken regarding the payment of a Bonus in 2018 will have to be consistent with the legal requirements set out in the domestic Fiscal Responsibility Acts 2012 and 2013 and the targets set for Ireland by the EU Stability and Growth Pact.
It should be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
The full year cost of increasing the Living Alone Allowance by €3 per week is estimated to be €32.8 million in 2019.
The full year cost of increasing the Over 80 Allowance by €2 per week is estimated to be €17.4 million in 2019.
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2019. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2019.
