Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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230. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total number of claimants of the over 80s allowance for each of the years 2010 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; the total expenditure on this allowance for each of those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20607/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the number of recipients of the age 80 allowance during the period 2010 to 2015 is detailed in the attached tabular statement.

The age 80 allowance is an extra allowance paid automatically by my Department to people in receipt of certain social welfare payments on their 80th birthday. Information regarding the cost of this allowance is not segregated from the expenditure statistics of the schemes under which it is paid. However I am informed that a weekly rate of €10.00 is payable to all qualifying recipients. On this basis, the estimated spend is in the order of €8 million.

Number of Recipients of Age 80 Allowance 2010 to April 2015