Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

219. To ask the Minister for Social Protection that there will be no further reductions or alterations to the household benefits and free travel pass facilities in the next budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28161/14]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

245. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the projected cost of increasing the weekly fuel allowance by €1 and €2, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28368/14]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

246. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the projected cost of restoring the social welfare Christmas bonus payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28369/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 219, 245 and 246 together.

The 2015 Budget will be considered by Government in the forthcoming months and will be announced on October 14. Changes to the household benefits, free travel and fuel allowance schemes and the re-introduction of a bonus at Christmas would have to be considered in that context.

In this regard, the cost of increasing fuel allowance by €1 and €2 per week, is estimated at €9.8 million and €19.7 million, respectively, in a full year. It is estimated that the re-introduction of a bonus payment at Christmas (analogous to the bonus payment which applied up to 2008) would cost in the order of €261 million.