Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is not receiving the living alone allowance. [41894/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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In order to receive Living Alone Increase a person must be living alone and, if over 66, must be in receipt of one of the following Social Welfare payments: State Pension (Contributory or Non-contributory), State Pension (Transition). As the person concerned is not in receipt of any payment from my Department she cannot avail of the Living Alone Increase.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason people on disability benefit do not receive the Christmas bonus; and if he will change this situation. [42001/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Christmas Bonus has again been paid this year to all recipients of long-term social welfare payments, at a rate equivalent to 100% of the person's normal weekly payment, subject to a minimum payment of €30. This measure costs an estimated €157 million this year and benefited some 1.25 million persons comprising 855,000 recipients and 394,000 dependants.

The focus of the bonus has always been on persons who rely on the social welfare system for financial support over the long term. These include recipients of State Pension (Transition), State Pension (Contributory and Non-contributory), Widow's, Widower's and Invalidity Pensions, One-parent Family Payment, Carer's Allowance, Disability Allowance, long-term Jobseeker's Allowance, Farm Assist and people in receipt of employment support payments.

As Carer's Benefit is now payable for up to 2 years, the bonus was, for the first time this year, paid to recipients of this benefit. The bonus is also payable to participants in the Rural Social Scheme, which was introduced in 2004, and operates under the aegis of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Any extension of entitlement to the bonus payment to short-term schemes would have significant cost implications. In relation to illness benefit, it is open to persons who have been in receipt of illness benefit for at least a year to apply for Invalidity Pension, and, if they qualify for the pension, they would also qualify for the Christmas Bonus payment.