Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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105. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 76 of 3 December 2015, the statutory basis for not providing a Christmas bonus to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9, given that the person has not been in full employment for many years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44955/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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An additional payment bonus for recipients of long-term social welfare payments is provided for under the Social Welfare (Temporary Provisions) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 529 of 2015). The regulations provide that named long-term welfare payments will attract a once-off additional sum of money known as the Christmas bonus. Jobseeker’s benefit is not specified as a scheme to attract the bonus and therefore clients in receipt of jobseekers benefit are not entitled to the additional once-off income.

The person concerned was employed on a Community Employment scheme from January 2010 to January 2015 and is currently in receipt of jobseeker’s benefit. As there is no legal provision for payment of an additional sum to clients in receipt of jobseeker’s benefit, the person has no entitlement to the bonus.