John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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295. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will fully restore the Christmas bonus to those in receipt of social protection payments; if he will consider changing the eligibility criteria from 15 months to 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28540/16]

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. It is estimated that the cost of a 75% bonus would be approximately €200 million in December 2016, while a 100% bonus would cost €267 million. Extending eligibility for the bonus to jobseekers with an unemployment duration of 12 months, instead of 15 months, would further increase this cost.

I will shortly 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.