Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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365. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost to the Exchequer of the benefit payment for 65-year-olds. [55966/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds is provided for under Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) schemes. Estimates are not prepared separately for those age 65 years and is included in the overall scheme costs. There are approximately 4,000 people in receipt of the Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds.

The estimated average weekly payment value for recipients of Jobseeker's Benefit in 2023 is €231.83. Based on this average payment value, the estimated full year cost for this group to the Exchequer is approximately €48.2 million.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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366. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of increasing the qualified child increase by €1 for children under the age of 12 years and €1 for children over the age of 12 years, respectively. [55967/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The estimated full year cost of increasing the qualified child increase by €1 per week is €11.8 million for children aged under 12 and €4.4 million for children aged 12 and over.

This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients in 2024 and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of beneficiaries.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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367. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of increasing the current young jobseeker’s rate of €129.70 by €1 per week. [55968/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The estimated full year cost of increasing Jobseeker's Allowance and Supplementary Welfare Allowance for those aged under 25, on age-related reduced rates, by €1 per week is €0.8 million. This cost includes a proportionate increase for Qualified Adults.

This costing is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of beneficiaries.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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368. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of including the working family payment as a qualifying payment for fuel allowance. [55970/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €412 million in 2023. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.

The Fuel Allowance is paid to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, 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.

The estimated cost of including the Working Family Payment as a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance is €22 million. This is based on 24,000 additional households qualifying for Fuel Allowance at a weekly rate of €33 and a 28-week fuel season.

Any further widening of the qualifying criteria for accessing the fuel allowance scheme can only be considered while taking account of the overall policy and budgetary situation.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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369. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of increasing the annual carers support grant by €1. [55971/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The estimated full year cost of increasing the Carer's Support by €1 is €0.2m.

It should be noted that this costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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370. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of increasing child benefit by €1. [55972/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The estimated full year cost of increasing Child Benefit by €1 is €14.9m.

It should be noted that this costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2024.