Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2569. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the full-year cost of reintroducing a concurrent payment of half-rate illness benefit and jobseeker's benefit in addition to one-parent family payment and widow's and widower's pensions. [35071/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to cost this proposal, it would be necessary to establish the potential number of one-parent family payment and widow(er)’s and surviving civil partner pension recipients that would be likely to qualify for half-rate illness benefit and jobseeker’s benefit payments. This information is not readily available and, accordingly, it is not possible to provide an up-to-date costing for this proposal at this time. However, at the time the payment of these concurrent payments were abolished (Budget 2012), full-year savings of €22.6 million were estimated.
Any proposed changes to the current legislation in relation to concurrent payments would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
