Roughly 1.5 million Irish people set to benefit from government Christmas bonuses

Roughly 1.5 million Irish people will be receiving Christmas bonuses from the government.

Payments will be made to long-term social welfare recipients and will total €370 million.

The announcement was made by government earlier today.

“I am very conscious of the pressure families are under, particularly in the run-up to Christmas. The Christmas Bonus is a vital support, particularly for our senior citizens,” Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, said.

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Pensioners, carers, and people with living with disabilities will be among those receiving the bonus.

It will be paid to them on the same day they usually receive their weekly pension or other primary payment.

The bonus will mean that social welfare payments will be double their normal rate.

These are worth between €244 per week for payments like the one parent family payment and jobseekers benefit to €261 for carer’s allowance, according to an article in the Irish Times. 

Parents receiving child benefit will not be any better off and will receive no bonus.