Written answers
Wednesday, 1 March 2017
Department of Social Protection
Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
203. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost in 2018 of increasing the fuel allowance by €2.50, €5, €6, €7, €8, €9 and €10, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10537/17]
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
204. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost in 2018 of increasing the fuel allowance by one week, two weeks, three weeks, four weeks, five weeks and six weeks, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10538/17]
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
205. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost in 2018 of increasing the State pension by €5, €10, €15, €20 and €25, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10539/17]
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
210. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost in 2018 of increasing disability allowance by €5, €10, €15, €20 and €25, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10544/17]
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
211. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost in 2018 of increasing the carer's allowance by €5, €10, €15, €20 and €25, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10545/17]
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
212. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost in 2018 of increasing the blind pension by €5, €10, €15, €20 and €25, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10546/17]
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
213. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost in 2018 of increasing the invalidity pension by €5, €10, €15, €20 and €25, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10547/17]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 to 205, inclusive, and 210 to 213, inclusive, together.
The costings sought by the Deputy are detailed in the following series of tables.
Table 1: Cost of increasing the Fuel Allowance by varying amounts
| Amount | Cost in 2018 - €m |
|---|---|
| €2.50 | 25.45 |
| €5.00 | 50.9 |
| €6.00 | 61.1 |
| €7.00 | 71.25 |
| €8.00 | 81.4 |
| €9.00 | 91.6 |
| €10.00 | 101.8 |
Table 2: Cost of increasing the duration of the Fuel Allowance by varying numbers of weeks
| Number of weeks | Cost in 2018 - €m |
|---|---|
| 1 week | 8.80 |
| 2 weeks | 17.60 |
| 3 weeks | 26.40 |
| 4 weeks | 35.20 |
| 5 weeks | 44.00 |
| 6 weeks | 52.85 |
Table 3: Cost of increasing all payments for those aged 66 and over by varying amounts
| Scheme | Full year cost of a €5 increase - €m | Full year cost of a €10 increase - €m | Full year cost of a €15 increase - €m | Full year cost of a €20 increase - €m | Full year cost of a €25 increase - €m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Pension Contributory | 98.1 | 196.2 | 294.3 | 392.4 | 490.5 |
| Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension – aged 66 and over | 22.1 | 44.2 | 66.3 | 88.4 | 110.5 |
| Deserted Wife's Benefit – aged 66 and over | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 3.0 |
| Death Benefit Pension – aged 66 and over | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| State Pension Non Contributory | 25.3 | 50.6 | 75.9 | 101.2 | 126.5 |
| Carer's Allowance – aged 66 and over | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Half Rate Carer's Allowance – aged 66 and over | 1.3 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 6.5 |
| OVERALL TOTAL | 148.0 | 296.0 | 444.0 | 592.0 | 740.0 |
Table 4: Cost of increasing Disability Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension by varying amounts
| Scheme | Full year cost of a €5 increase - €m | Full year cost of a €10 increase - €m | Full year cost of a €15 increase - €m | Full year cost of a €20 increase - €m | Full year cost of a €25 increase - €m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disability Allowance | 35.1 | 70.1 | 105.2 | 140.2 | 175.3 |
| Carer’s Allowance | 13.5 | 27.0 | 40.5 | 54.0 | 67.5 |
| Blind Pension | 0.35 | 0.7 | 1.05 | 1.4 | 1.75 |
| Invalidity Pension | 16.1 | 32.1 | 48.2 | 64.2 | 80.3 |
It should be noted that the costings listed above include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant. It should also be noted that these costings are subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2018.
No comments