Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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386. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason those in receipt of maternity benefit do not receive the Christmas bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43583/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Christmas Bonus is paid to social welfare recipients, such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all, or most, of their income. Short-term schemes, including Maternity Benefit, do not qualify for the Christmas Bonus.

In recognition of the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on employment levels and the sudden financial impact on individuals, the Bonus was paid this year, on an exceptional basis, to people who have been in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for a period of four months or more and are in payment on the date the Bonus is paid. It was also paid to people on jobseeker payments who have been in receipt of these payments for four months or more.

The decision to reduce the time from 15 months to four to become eligible for the Bonus was made to ensure that it is paid to those who have been made unemployed for a significant period since the first shutdown of businesses, and also to reflect the exceptional situation brought about by the pandemic.

Maternity Benefit is a short-term scheme payable for 26 weeks and, as such, has never been a qualifying payment for the purpose of the Christmas bonus.

Any changes to the eligibility criteria for the Christmas Bonus would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.