Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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656. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she agrees that the double payments that will be made over Christmas by her Department should be extended to include those receiving maternity benefit; if not, why not; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44316/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.

Those on maternity benefit who do not avail of the Christmas bonus may be eligible for the Double Child Benefit payment in both November and December. The rate for Maternity Benefit will increase from January 2025 by €15 as announced in Budget 2025.

Any changes to schemes whose recipients avail of the Christmas Bonus would need to be considered in an overall budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.