Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the justification for not paying a Christmas bonus to people in receipt of jobseeker's benefit; the cost of doing so; and if she will review her decision not to award a double payment to jobseeker's benefit claimants in 2008. [45431/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Christmas Bonus is paid to all recipients of long-term social welfare payments. The payment was made during the first week of December, at an estimated cost of €201million and some 1.3 million persons comprising 940,000 recipients and 400,000 dependents benefited from the payment.

The estimated cost of extending the payment to recipients of jobseeker's benefit is an additional €33,000,000 approx.

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), blind pension, widow's, widower's and invalidity pensions, guardian's payment (contributory and non-contributory), one-parent family payment, carer's benefit and allowance, disability allowance, long-term jobseeker's allowance, pre-retirement allowance, farm assist and people in receipt of employment support payments. 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.

There are no plans at present to amend or extend entitlement to the bonus payment to short-term schemes, and any such extension could only be considered in a budgetary context having regard to the resources available and the significant cost which would be involved.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will reverse the decision to reduce unemployment benefit payable to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan, in view of their family's inability to meet their household bills on their spouse's wage and the reduced benefit they now receive. [45461/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The review of the one-parent family payment claim of the person concerned is ongoing. The Social Welfare Inspector has been in contact with her and has made arrangements to meet with her shortly to clarify certain aspects of her circumstances. When the inspector's inquiries are complete, a decision will be made as soon as possible and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.

A previous Question No. 429 tabled by the Deputy was answered on 25 November 2008.

Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the social welfare payments for which no Christmas double payment will be made in 2008. [45464/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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The Christmas Bonus is paid to all recipients of long-term social welfare payments. The payment was made during the first week of December, at an estimated cost of €201 million and some 1.3 million persons comprising 940,000 recipients and 400,000 dependents benefited from the payment.

The focus of the bonus has always been on persons who rely on the social welfare system for financial support over the long term. Schemes which are essentially short-term in nature are not included. These are illness, maternity, health and safety, adoptive, and jobseeker's benefits, jobseeker's allowance (in respect of a continuous period of unemployment of less than 15 months), supplementary welfare allowance and family income supplement.

The bonus is payable to recipients of State pension (transition), State pension (contributory and non-contributory), pre-retirement allowance, widow's, widower's and invalidity pensions, blind pension, guardian's payment (contributory and non-contributory), one-parent family payment, carer's benefit, carer's allowance, disability allowance, long-term jobseeker's allowance, farm assist and to people in receipt of employment support payments.

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.