Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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1178. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the one-parent family payment and jobseeker's transition payment rate to €245; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4678/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The estimated cost of increasing the age limit of the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) and jobseeker's transition payment (JST) rate to €245 would be very difficult to estimate with any great accuracy.

At the end of January there were 39,533 OFP and 15,234 JST recipients. As these are means tested schemes, many customers in receipt of these payments are working or have alternative forms of means and are therefore not receiving the current full rate of €203.

The earnings and means data are critical to providing a reliable costing. I am advised that the Department is therefore not in a position to provide the costing requested.