Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will support a matter (details supplied). [20495/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As Deputies will be aware, in the context of the current economic circumstances, it has been necessary for the Government to take steps to reduce overall public expenditure in order to restore order and stability in the public finances. This has involved reviewing all public expenditure programmes, including social welfare programmes, which at some €21.3 billion in 2009 form a substantial portion of overall public expenditure. In order to avoid cutting all the weekly social welfare payment rates while trying to keep the welfare budget at a level the State can afford it has been necessary to discontinue funding for the Christmas bonus that in the past has been paid to certain welfare recipients. The payment of a 100% Christmas bonus in 2009 would cost an estimated €223 million. The decision not to pay the bonus this year was the most difficult decision the Government had to make in framing the supplementary budget.

The rates of child benefit have increased significantly since 2001 having trebled for the first two children and increased by over 185% for the third and subsequent children. Overall expenditure on child benefit grew from the equivalent of €965 million in 2001 to nearly €2.5 billion in 2008 as a result of these rates increases and the growth in the number of eligible children. The Minister for Finance announced in the Supplementary Budget the Government's intention to subject child benefit to income tax or means-test it from 2010. The Department, together with the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners, will be giving the matter careful consideration over the coming months. Furthermore, the Commission on Taxation is considering the issues underlying the possible taxation of child benefit. The Commission's deliberations will inform the Government's final decision on how to proceed. Officials of this Department, in their submission and their meeting with the Commission, set out their views on the issues involved in means testing or taxing child benefit.

While very difficult decisions have been taken in order to restore order and stability in the public finances, I have been successful in keeping expenditure control measures in the social welfare area to an absolute minimum and ensuring that the more vulnerable in society have been protected from their effects.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Longford has been refused jobseeker's allowance in view of the fact that they have no income other than approximately €50 per week they receive for doing odd jobs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20500/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A claim for Jobseeker's Allowance was received from the person concerned by the Department on 12th of May 2009. Payment of Jobseeker's Allowance is subject to a means test. In this regard his application was referred for investigation to a Social Welfare Investigator who will accordingly be in touch with him. A person may apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance from their local Community Welfare Officer while an application for Jobseeker's Allowance is being processed.