54. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of the Christmas bonus (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44516/15]

On Budget Day, I was pleased to announce that a 75% Christmas Bonus would be paid to over 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients, such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and long-term jobseekers. The bonus has never been paid to short-term jobseekers, and this arrangement continues to apply this year.

The Live Register is made up of recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance, Jobseeker’s Benefit, and people signing for credits. The bonus is paid to long-term jobseekers who have been in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance for a minimum of 15 months (390 days), in recognition of their being wholly or mostly financially dependent on their social welfare payment for income. It should be noted that time in receipt of Jobseeker’s Benefit is taken into account when calculating this duration.