John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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401. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans for the Christmas bonus in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21172/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Christmas Bonus was abolished in 2009. The Bonus was partially reintroduced in 2014 with the payment of a 25% Bonus. A 75% Bonus was paid last December to some 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and the long-term unemployed, in recognition of their financial dependence on their social welfare payments.

There is currently no provision in the 2016 Revised Estimates for the payment of a Bonus. This was also the case in 2014 and 2015 when a Christmas bonus was subsequently paid. I will be seeking approval from my Government colleagues in the coming months for the payment of a Christmas Bonus this year.