I propose to take Questions Nos. 1992, 2006 and 2008 together.
The costings sought by the Deputy are detailed in the following series of tables.
Table 1: Cost of increasing all non-working age payments by varying amounts
Increase all non-working age weekly payments by:
|
Full Year Cost
€m
|
€3.00
|
88.80
|
€4.00
|
118.40
|
€5.00
|
148.10
|
€6.00
|
177.70
|
€7.00
|
207.50
|
€8.00
|
236.70
|
€9.00
|
266.50
|
€10.00
|
296.10
|
For the purpose of the costings in Table 1, it was presumed that the Deputy was referring to pension age payments, namely: State Pension Contributory, State Pension Non Contributory, Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension (for those aged 66 and over), Deserted Wife's Benefit (for those aged 66 and over), Death Benefit Pension (for those aged 66 and over) and Carer’s Allowance (for those aged 66 and over).
Table 2: Cost of increasing the Qualified Child Increase to varying amounts
Increase the weekly rate of the
Qualified Child Increase payment from €29.80 to:
|
Full Year Cost
€m
|
€31.00
|
23.80
|
€32.00
|
43.60
|
€33.00
|
63.50
|
€34.00
|
83.30
|
€35.00
|
103.10
|
€36.00
|
123.00
|
€37.00
|
142.80
|
€38.00
|
162.60
|
€39.00
|
182.50
|
€40.00
|
202.30
|
Table 3: Cost of increasing Disability Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension by varying amounts
Scheme
|
Full year cost of a €5 increase
€m
|
Full year cost of a €10 increase
€m
|
Full year cost of a €15 increase
€m
|
Full year cost of a €20 increase
€m
|
Disability Allowance
|
35.1
|
70.1
|
105.2
|
140.2
|
Blind Pension
|
0.35
|
0.7
|
1.05
|
1.4
|
Invalidity Pension
|
16.1
|
32.1
|
48.2
|
64.2
|
Carer’s Allowance
|
13.5
|
27.0
|
40.5
|
54.0
|
It should be noted that the costings listed above in Tables 1 & 3 include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant. It should also be noted that 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 2018.