Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for what was a very substantial and excellent answer to a different question. It certainly did not answer mine, which related to dependants who did not receive the cost-of-living bonus payment. She offered nothing regarding her views on that or the rationale for the decision. The precedent in respect of bonus payments, insofar as there are any, relates to the Christmas bonus, which has been paid for the past four or five years. There was a period when it was not paid but it was also paid prior to the recession. Throughout that time, adult dependants got the Christmas bonus. There is no precedent for adult dependants not receiving a bonus payment.

These people were led to believe, in the initial discussions that led to the payment, as I understand it, that they were to receive it. They had no sense they were not going to get it. Often, it is six of one, half a dozen of the other as to whether an elderly couple will go for two payments, or one as an adult dependant on another payment. The qualifying conditions do not vary greatly. People would have been expecting the payment and relying on it to put food on the table and pay bills. Why were they not included and why did they not get it?

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