Social Welfare Benefits Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 July 2017

Wednesday, 12 July 2017

Ceisteanna (431, 432, 453, 454)

John Brady

Ceist:

431. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing jobseeker's allowance, supplementary welfare allowance and the back to education allowance by €5. [33415/17]

John Brady

Ceist:

432. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing age reduced jobseeker's payments in line with the jobseeker's payments paid to those aged over 26 years of age over three years. [33416/17]

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

453. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of each €1 increase to the age reduced JSA and SWA weekly rate of €102.70 in 2018. [33550/17]

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

454. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of each €1 increase to the age reduced JSA and SWA weekly rate of €147.80 in 2018. [33551/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 431, 432, 453 and 454 together.

The full year cost of increasing jobseeker's allowance, supplementary welfare allowance and the back to education allowance by €5 per week is estimated to be €64.8 million in 2018.

The full year cost of increasing the age related reduced jobseeker's rates of €102.70 per week and €147.80 per week to the maximum jobseeker's rate of €193 per week is estimated to be €109.1 million in 2018. The cost of one third of this increase (if spread out over three years) is €36.4 million in 2018.

The full year cost of a €1 increase in the weekly rates of jobseeker’s allowance and supplementary welfare allowance paid to those who are under 25 years of age is estimated to be €1.1 million in 2018.

The full year cost of a €1 increase in the weekly rates of jobseeker’s allowance and supplementary welfare allowance paid to those who are aged 25 years of age is estimated to be €0.2 million in 2018.

The costings listed above 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.