Emigrants to receive centenarian's bounty

The centenarian’s bounty given to all Irish people when they reach their 100th birthday will also be granted to citizens living abroad, it was confirmed today.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the Government’s decision to extend the €2,500 bounty to all citizens who turn 100, regardless of where they live, was a token of the regard of the sacrifices emigrants had to make.

Mr Ahern said Ireland now enjoys a flourishing economy but this move recognises the thousands of people had to leave Ireland in search of employment.

“Many thousands of our people had to leave Ireland out of economic necessity. Many built remarkable lives for themselves abroad and contributed substantially to their adopted countries," Mr Ahern said.

"We see huge evidence of this to this day with people of Irish ancestry to the fore worldwide in all walks of life,” Mr Ahern said.

“Many of these people continued to support families back home and it is well known that the families they had to leave behind relied on the envelopes that would arrive from overseas.”

Mr Ahern said it was fitting that the State should acknowledge their 100th birthday.

It is believed the extension of the scheme may result in a four-fold increase in the number of people receiving the payment.

Around 160 people receive the payment each year from the Social Welfare Department at a cost of €400,000. It is estimated up to 600 people may claim the payment under the extended scheme at a cost of €1.5m.