Christmas bonus for social welfare recipients

A partial restoration of the Christmas bonus will be received by more than 1.2m social welfare claimants this week. The €65m move will be the first time the payment has been given since 2009 — but only 25% of weekly benefits will be issued.

The move came as ministers tried to downplay fears of a major surge in the property tax after the next general election.

Social protection Minister Joan Burton heralded the partial restoration of the Christmas bonus, which sees weekly claims topped up by a quarter, which will be given to groups such as the disabled, carers, and jobseekers on the dole for more than 15 months.