Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2023
116. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm the number of people who benefitted from the social protection lump sum payments; if further cost-of-living measures will be considered going forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24393/23]
View answerSince Spring 2022, my Department has administered a wide range of lump sum cost of living supports targeted at people and families to help them through this difficult period. These were paid out across 2022 - in March, May, October through December, and in April 2023, with further supports to be paid in the coming months.
The full list of cost of living lump sum supports provided by my Department, along with the cost and number of recipients is below. Further supports, including energy credits for example, were provided from other Government Departments' Votes.
|
Measure |
Cost |
Number of recipients |
|
Spring/Summer 2022 |
||
|
€125 lump sum payment to households in receipt of Fuel Allowance (March) |
€49m |
372,000 households |
|
€100 lump sum payment to households in receipt of Fuel Allowance (May) |
€37.1m |
371,000 households |
|
Additional €100 payment for each child for whom Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is paid |
€22m |
122,000 household (in respect of 220,000 children) |
|
Autumn 2022 |
||
|
Autumn Double Weekly Payment |
€316.4m |
1.4m recipients |
|
Fuel Allowance €400 lump sum payment |
€148.5m |
371,000 households |
|
Double monthly payment of Child Benefit |
€170.4m |
638,000 recipients (in respect of 1,203,000 children) |
|
Living Alone Allowance €200 lump sum payment |
€46m |
191,800 pensioners and 42,200 working age recipients (an estimated total of 234,000 beneficiaries) |
|
Working Family Payment €500 lump sum payment |
€23m |
44,000 recipients (with 97,000 children) |
|
Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and Carer’s Support Grant €500 lump sum payment |
€175m |
Approximately 350,000 recipients |
|
Christmas Bonus Double Weekly Payment |
€300m |
1.3m recipients |
|
Spring 2023 |
||
|
€200 lump sum payment to primary recipients of long-term social welfare payments, including Working Family Payment |
€261m |
1.35m recipients. |
|
Additional €100 Child Benefit payment, per child * |
€122m |
638,000 recipients (in respect of 1,203,000 children) |
|
Additional €100 payment for each child for whom Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to be paid in 2023 * |
€27.3m |
153,000 recipients (in respect of 273,000 children). |
* Note- Upcoming payment.
