Michael Noonan
Ceist:84 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if provision for the Christmas bonus is included in the Social Welfare Vote; and the cost if it is paid on the same basis as 1992.
Written Answers. - Christmas Bonus.
It is not the practice to include the cost of the Christmas bonus payment in the Social Welfare Estimates. A decision in relation to the payment of a Christmas bonus this year will be taken by the Government at the appropriate time.
A Christmas bonus of 70 per cent of normal weekly payments was made last year at a cost of £31 million. It benefited over one million people i.e. 655,000 recipients and their 395,000 dependants.