Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will increase the bereavement grant to a more reasonable level in line with actual funeral costs; the amount which has been spent on this scheme for each of the past five years on a county basis; when this grant was last increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15581/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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There are various schemes within the social welfare system to assist families in dealing with death and funeral expenses. These include the payment of a bereavement grant to insured people and their families, the payment of six weeks social welfare following the death of persons in receipt of certain social welfare schemes or their spouse, and the payment of the widowed parent's grant.

The bereavement grant is based on PRSI contributions and is payable on the death of an insured person or a family member, including a child under the age of 18, or under the age of 22 if in full-time education. The amount of the grant is €635. The grant was last increased in 1999 and will be reviewed in the context of budget 2007, as usual with schemes like this. The expenditure on the bereavement grant on a county basis over the past five years is set out in the following table.