Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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145. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the measures in budget 2015 that will help senior citizens; her plans for future budgets in helping senior citizens; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41560/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I announced, on Budget Day, a number of welfare initiatives which will benefit older people who are in receipt of a welfare payment. These initiatives included the re-introduction of a Christmas Bonus, an increase in the Living Alone Allowance and support for welfare recipients with the cost of water services.

The Christmas Bonus was abolished by the previous Government in 2009. I am pleased to say that I am in a position to partially restore the Bonus this year. A bonus of 25% will be paid in early December to all long-term welfare recipients including all pensioners and carers. I am taking this initiative in recognition of the fact that most social welfare recipients rely either wholly or mainly on their weekly payment.

There will be an increase in the living alone allowance of €1.30 per week from January, bringing the rate up from €7.70 to €9 for pensioners and people with disabilities. The living alone allowance is a payment made to pensioners and people with disabilities who live alone and was last increased in 1996.

In line with the Government’s Statement of Priorities, I have introduced a water support payment of €100 to recipients of the Household Benefit Package, to help older people and other vulnerable groups meet the cost of water services.

In addition, I also introduced a payment of €100 per annum to fuel allowance recipients who are not in receipt of the Household Benefits Package. This measure will also work to alleviate the impact of water costs.

As well as the measures mentioned above, all existing welfare payments and supports for pensioners will be maintained in 2015 – there will be no reductions. Throughout the crisis, this Government protected core weekly welfare rates and maintained a massively strong social welfare safety net. That was a political choice which this Government made very deliberately; it is not one that was followed in other bailout countries.

This is acknowledged by the ESRI, among others, which has pointed out that, unlike in other countries, income inequality has fallen in Ireland in recent years, largely because of the overall maintenance of the welfare system.

The measures I announced in the Budget 2015 are the first steps in strengthening the safety net for all those who need it. Future social welfare spending will be considered in the context of next year’s Budget.