Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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128. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the expected total spend on jobseeker's allowance and social welfare allowance to recipients under the age of 26 in 2015. [31969/14]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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129. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 251 of 9 July 2014, if the figure of €163 million is based on paying the maximum weekly rate of €188 to all those in question under 26 or on applying a maximum weekly rate of €188 to all those in question under 26; and if the figure is based on the former what is the estimated cost of the latter. [31970/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 129 together.

Data on the expenditure on jobseeker’s allowance and supplementary welfare allowance is not maintained on an age related basis and, accordingly, it is not possible to estimate expenditure in 2015 for persons aged under 26 on these schemes.

The answer to Parliamentary Question No. 251 (July 9 last) estimated that the cost of paying the maximum weekly rate of €188 to all recipients of jobseeker's allowance and basic supplementary welfare allowance aged under 26 would be €163 million in 2015. This costing is based on raising the maximum personal weekly rate of entitlement to €188 per week. The weekly rate payable to individual recipients aged under 26 would be €188 less any means assessed.