I propose to take Questions Nos. 299, 301 to 303, inclusive, 305, 306, 309 and 310 together.
The costings sought by the Deputy are outlined in the format agreed with the Deputy’s office. The costs of higher or lower increases in the various rates of payment are proportionate to the costs shown for a given rate of increase. As also requested by the Deputy’s office, the costs do not include the costs of proportionate increases for qualified adults.
The cost of a €10 increase in the monthly rate of Child Benefit is estimated at €146.5 million in 2017.
The cost of a €10 increase in the weekly rate of the Living Alone Allowance is estimated at €102.4 million in 2017.
A €100 increase in the rate of the Carer's Support Grant is estimated at €8.9 million in 2017 with a €200 increase estimated at costing €17.8 million.
The remaining costings are listed in the two following tables:
Table 1: Indicative cost of each €10 increase in weekly personal rates for those of working age – this includes a €10 increase for jobseekers aged under 26 as well as for recipients of Disability Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Invalidity Pension and Blind Pension.
Scheme
|
Cost in 2017
€m
|
Social Insurance Schemes
|
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension
|
15.9
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit
|
2.2
|
Invalidity Pension
|
29.0
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory)
|
0.7
|
Disablement Pension
|
3.3
|
Illness Benefit
|
26.9
|
Injury Benefit
|
0.6
|
Incapacity Supplement
|
0.5
|
Jobseeker's Benefit
|
16.2
|
Carer's Benefit
|
1.4
|
Health and Safety Benefit
|
0.0
|
Maternity & Adoptive Benefit
|
11.6
|
Total Social Insurance Schemes
|
108.3
|
Social Assistance Schemes
|
|
Blind Person's Pension
|
0.7
|
Widow/ers or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension
|
0.8
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance
|
0.1
|
One-Parent Family Payment
|
21.5
|
Carer's Allowance
|
19.0
|
Half Rate Carer's Allowance
|
5.2
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory)
|
0.2
|
Jobseeker's Allowance
|
104.7
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (€100 rate)
|
11.6
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (€144 rate)
|
2.3
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance
|
0.1
|
Disability Allowance
|
66.2
|
Farm Assist
|
4.2
|
Back to Education Allowance
|
5.7
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
|
5.3
|
Community Employment Programme
|
12.8
|
TÚS - Community Work Placement Initiative
|
4.3
|
Rural Social Scheme
|
1.4
|
JobBridge - National Internship
|
1.2
|
Gateway
|
1.1
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance
|
7.6
|
Total Social Assistance Schemes
|
276.1
|
OVERALL TOTAL
|
384.4
|
Table 2: Indicative cost of each €10 increase in weekly personal rates for those of pension age
Scheme
|
Cost in 2017
€m
|
State Pension Contributory
|
173.0
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension
|
43.1
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit
|
1.2
|
Death Benefit Pension
|
0.3
|
State Pension Non Contributory
|
49.5
|
Carer's Allowance
|
1.1
|
Half Rate Carer's Allowance
|
2.6
|
OVERALL TOTAL
|
270.8
|
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and assume that, where relevant, each increase is implemented from the beginning of January. It should be noted that these costings relate to 2017 and are subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2017.