Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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52. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will ensure that those on so-called short-term social welfare payments will also receive the Christmas bonus and the one-off cost-of-living support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50099/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend approximately €1.2 billion in one-off measures during the coming months to help individuals and families through this difficult period.

One of these measures is the Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment. This will be paid to those schemes which are eligible to receive the Christmas Bonus, with one modification - the removal of the 12-month duration requirement for certain schemes - allowing short-term jobseekers and Supplementary Welfare Allowance customers to qualify for the October support.

The Christmas Bonus is paid to long-term 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.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.