asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total cost of the payment of the Christmas bonus to social welfare recipients in (a) 1984 and (b) 1985.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Christmas Bonus.
333.
The total cost to the Exchequer of the payment of the Christmas bonus to social welfare recipients (including persons in receipt of long term health payments) was (a) £20 million in 1984 and (b) £20.4 million in 1985.
The cost of paying the bonus to persons in receipt of occupational injury benefit by way of pension, which is not an Exchequer cost and therefore is not included in the figures above, was about £0.2 million in each year.