The Tánaiste Joan Burton and Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin have confirmed that the Christmas bonus for those currently in receipt of social welfare will be issued next week.
The announcement comes after both government ministers officially signed the necessary documents to allow the extra payments to come out of the State’s finances.
The Tánaiste made a brief statement regarding the bonus payments, saying: “As Tánaiste and Labour Party leader, my focus is on trying to ensure we can improve things for every person, not just a few – and the Bonus will play an important role in that,” said the Tánaiste today.
The social welfare Christmas bonus returns after a 5 year hiatus as it was suspended during the economic downturn, it is understood recipients of social welfare will receive an extra €141.00 on top of their initial payments starting next weeks whilst pensioners will receive a bonus of €173. Meanwhile a long-term jobseeker with a dependent partner and two dependent children will get a bonus payment of €279.30.