Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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52. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the annual cost of increasing the jobseeker's allowance to €188 per week for all recipients under 26 years of age who are currently in receipt of either the €100 and the €144 rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41940/15]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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53. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the annual cost of increasing the jobseeker's allowance to €144 per week for all recipients under 26 years of age who are currently in receipt of the €100 rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41941/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 53 together.

The cost of increasing the €100 weekly rate for jobseekers under 26 years of age to a maximum personal weekly rate of €144 is €68.25 million in a full year, including proportional increases for qualified adults where applicable.

The cost of increasing the €100 and €144 weekly rate for jobseekers under 26 years of age to a maximum personal weekly rate of €188 is €148.4 million in a full year, including proportional increases for qualified adults, where applicable.

Jobseeker's allowance recipients who are in receipt of the maximum personal rates of €100 and €144 per week may benefit from two of the measures I recently announced in the Budget. Firstly, all jobseeker's allowance recipients, including those under 26, who have been unemployed for 15 months or more will benefit from the 75% Christmas Bonus payment. A single young unemployed jobseeker in receipt of the €100 rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance for 15 months will receive a Christmas bonus payment of €75, while a person in receipt of the €144 rate for 15 months will receive €108.

In addition, those who are 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.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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54. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the annual cost of increasing the jobseeker's allowance to €188 for all recipients under 26 years of age who are currently in receipt of the €144 rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41942/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The cost of increasing the weekly rate of Jobseeker's Allowance to €188 for all recipients under 26 years of age who are currently in receipt of the €144 rate is almost €12 million in a full year.

Jobseeker’s allowance recipients who are in receipt of the maximum personal rate of €144 per week may benefit from two of the measures I recently announced in the Budget. Firstly, all jobseeker’s allowance recipients, including those under 26, who have been unemployed for 15 months or more will benefit from the 75% Christmas Bonus payment. A single young unemployed jobseeker in receipt of the €100 rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance for 15 months will receive a Christmas bonus payment of €75, while a person in receipt of the €144 rate for 15 months will receive €108.

In addition, those who are 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.