John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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217. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons in receipt of illness benefit are exempt from receiving the Christmas bonus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38293/16]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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218. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider awarding the Christmas bonus to persons in receipt of illness benefit, especially considering that some persons have been in receipt of this payment long term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38294/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 218 together.

Payment of the 85% Christmas bonus to recipients of a long term Social Welfare payment, commenced in the first week of December. The payment of the bonus, at an estimated cost of over €220 million, will benefit approximately 1.2 million recipients including domiciliary care allowance recipients, social welfare pensioners, the long term unemployed, carers, people with disabilities and lone parents. It is intended that the bonus will benefit those who rely either wholly or mainly on their social welfare payments for financial support.

Illness benefit (IB), is primarily a short-term scheme and as such has never been a qualifying payment for the purpose of the Christmas bonus, recipients of long-term disability payments are eligible.

I hope this answers the Deputy’s questions.