Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2015

Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Ceisteanna (249)

Patrick O'Donovan

Ceist:

249. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the indicative cost of each €1 change in the personal rates of jobseeker's benefit, jobseeker's allowance, maternity and adoptive benefit, carer's allowance, farm assist, back to work allowance, back to education allowance, community employment, Tús – work placement initiative, JobBridge, and one-parent family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18533/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The estimated full year cost in 2016 of a €1 per week increase in the rates of payment for the schemes in question only is detailed in the table. It should be noted that these costs include the cost of proportionate increases for qualified adults.

Scheme	Full Year cost of €1 per week increase (proportionate increase in the Qualified Adult rate of payment) €m
Jobseeker's Benefit	2.3
Jobseeker's Allowance	13.1
Maternity & Adoptive Benefit	1.1
Carer's Allowance	2.4
Farm Assist	0.65
Back to Work Allowance	0.45
Back to Education Allowance	1.0
Community Employment	1.5
Tús	0.5
JobBridge	0.3
One Parent Family Payment	2.7

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 2016.