Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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121. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will include persons (details supplied) who are on illness benefit long term in the social welfare Christmas bonus payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46790/14]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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141. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the Christmas bonus to persons who are currently in receipt of long-term illness benefit under the pre-2008 rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47022/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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It is proposed to take Question Nos. 121 and 141 together.

The Christmas bonus was paid last week to over 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients at a cost of circa €65 million.

The Bonus was introduced in 1980 and was paid annually (at varying rates) until it was abolished in 2009. I was pleased to be in the position to partially restore the bonus this year. A 25% bonus (subject to a minimum payment of €20) was paid to the beneficiaries of all schemes to which the bonus previously applied. It should be noted that Illness Benefit recipients were never eligible for the bonus in the past and this condition continues to apply this year.

It should be noted that persons who are permanently incapable of work may be entitled to the PRSI contribution based Invalidity Pension, subject to satisfying the relevant conditions. Persons who are substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment due to medical reasons may be entitled to the means tested Disability Allowance, subject to satisfying the relevant conditions. Recipients of the latter payments are eligible for the Christmas Bonus, as well as additional benefits including Free Travel and the Household Benefits package.