I wish to talk a little about the Christmas bonus which will directly benefit 1.2 million social welfare customers and their dependants and be paid in the first week of December. As announced in the budget, the bonus paid to pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and people who are long-term unemployed will rise by 75% this year. Let us recall that the Christmas bonus was abolished in 2009 but re-introduced by the present Government. The regulations which provide for the 75% Christmas bonus to be paid were signed yesterday and must be welcomed. Weekly social welfare payments, with which the Christmas bonus will be paid, includes the State pension, both contributory and non-contributory, the widow's and widower's pension, both contributory and non-contributory, the guardians payment both contributory and non-contributory, and those receiving invalidity pensions, blind pension, deserted wives' benefit, carer's allowance and benefit, disability allowances, farm assist, long-term jobseeker's allowance and long-term supplementary welfare allowance. A pensioner couple, both in receipt of the non-contributory State pension, will receive a bonus of €328.50. A single person on disability allowance will receive a bonus payment of €141. A person in receipt of a carer's allowance with two dependant children will get a bonus of €197.70.

Is the Senator seeking a debate on this issue?

I will conclude with more good news. A long-term jobseeker with a dependant partner and two dependant children will receive a bonus of €279.30. The figures say it all and, therefore, I do not seek a debate.

What about the past number of years?

I cannot answer that question.

I welcome all of the payments.