Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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157. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of restoring the Christmas bonus to all eligible social welfare recipients in December 2016; the number of persons who will qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28871/16]

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.

It is estimated that the cost of the Bonus in 2016 (as was paid in 2015) to over 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and the long-term unemployed would be approximately €195 million. The cost of a 100% Bonus would be in the order of €260 million.

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.