Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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58. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost of increasing disability allowance by €20. [40861/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The estimated full year cost of a €20 increase in the weekly rate of Disability Allowance is €131.2 million, which includes the cost of a proportionate increase for qualified adults where applicable.

On Budget Day, I announced a social welfare Budget package for 2016 with four key aims:

- to deliver welfare improvements for pensioners aged 66 and over;

- to strengthen supports for all families with children;

- to enhance incentives for employment and to make work pay; and

- to provide targeted assistance for vulnerable groups, such as carers and people with disabilities.

In this regard, I am pleased to be in the position to provide a 75% Christmas Bonus payment this year. A single person in receipt of Disability Allowance will receive a bonus payment of €141. Those eligible for the Fuel Allowance will gain from the increase in January of €2.50 per week, from €20 to €22.50 per week over the fuel season. In addition, the Free Travel scheme is being fully maintained, with the provision of a further €3 million in funding.