Welfare Christmas bonus gets cabinet approval: Curran

A 100% Christmas bonus will be paid to a large number of social welfare recipients during the first week of December.

Mary Coughlan, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs has secured cabinet agreement on the issue, according to John Curran, Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin mid-west in a statement issued today.

"Despite the tougher economic times nationally, I am glad that the Minister has secured the agreement of Cabinet to pay an extra week’s social welfare payment for recipients in the run up to Christmas," Deputy Curran said.

There had been rumours that the bonus payments would be axed or trimmed back this year by the Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy.

Among those set to benefit are non-contributory old age pensioners living alone who will receive an extra €151.70, while a single parent with two child dependants will receive an extra €163.40.

Those receiving the carer's allowance will receive €129.60 extra while someone who is long-term unemployed or on disability allowance with a dependent adult and two dependent children will receive €241.20 extra.

The total cost of the Christmas bonus this year is estimated to be €115.6m.

Social welfare customers will receive €110m while €5.6m has been earmarked for certain participants of FAS, VTOS, job initiative and community employment schemes.