Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
1468. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing payments (details supplied) by €5, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16475/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1470. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year-cost of increasing the rate of maternity benefit by €5, €10, €15 and €20, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16477/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1471. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing paternity benefit by €5, €10, €15 and €20, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16478/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1472. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the qualified child payment by €2, €3, €4 and €5, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16479/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1468 and 1470 to 1472, inclusive, together.
The costings sought by the Deputy are detailed in the following series of tables.
Table 1: Full year cost of increasing various payments by €5 per week
|
Scheme |
€5 increase €m |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
16.0 |
|
Carer’s Benefit |
0.7 |
|
Disability Allowance |
37.5 |
|
Illness Benefit |
14.4 |
|
Blind Pension |
0.3 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
17.2 |
It should be noted that the cost for Carer’s Allowance includes an increase for those aged under and over 66 years of age as well as a proportionate increase for those in receipt of a half rate payment.
Table 2: Full year cost of increasing Maternity Benefit by varying amounts
|
€5 increase |
€10 increase |
€15 increase |
€20 increase |
|
|
Schemes |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
Maternity Benefit |
5.2 |
10.3 |
15.5 |
20.6 |
Table 3: Full year cost of increasing Paternity Benefit by varying amounts
|
€5 increase |
€10 increase |
€15 increase |
€20 increase |
|
|
Schemes |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
Paternity Benefit |
0.3 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
1.0 |
Table 4: Full year cost of increasing the Increase for a Qualified Child by varying amounts
|
€2 increase |
€3 increase |
€4 increase |
€5 increase |
|
|
Schemes |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
Increase for a Qualified Child |
37.0 |
55.4 |
73.9 |
92.4 |
All of the costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2018. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2019. It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
