Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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115. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the Christmas bonus 2022 will be paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59110/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I was pleased to announce on Budget Day that a 100% Christmas Bonus will be paid this year benefitting 1.3 million people in receipt of long-term social welfare payments. The Bonus will be paid during the week beginning the 5th of December and will cost approximately €294 million.

The Bonus includes payments to 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.

As we know, this payment is an additional help to people as we enter the Christmas period and much of this is spent locally, supporting local economies throughout the country. Given the ongoing cost of living pressures, this will be a particularly important support for low-income households this year. The Bonus is one of a range of lump sums, which I announced at Budget time, that my Department have been paying since October this year, totaling almost €1.2 billon, to help individuals and families through this difficult period.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.