Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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146. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position in relation to the payment of a Christmas bonus to social protection recipients in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27811/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Christmas Bonus was abolished in 2009. It was partially reintroduced in 2014 with a 25% Bonus payment. A 75% Bonus was paid in December 2015 to some 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and the long-term unemployed at a cost of €197 million.

There is no provision in 2016 Revised Estimates for the payment of a Christmas Bonus. I will be seeking approval from my Government colleagues for the payment of a Bonus this year. Any decision taken regarding the payment of a Bonus will have to be consistent with the legal requirements set out in the Fiscal Responsibility Acts 2012 and 2013, and within the context of achieving the targets set for Ireland by the EU rules.

I hope this clarifies the matter.