MERRY CASHMAS

€265m bonuses for oaps & welfare recipients as payment reinstated

BONUSES worth €265million will be paid to pensioners and welfare recipients this Christmas.

The payment had been scrapped in 2009 as cost-cutting measure during the recession before being reinstated in 2014 at a 25% rate.

This was subsequently increased to 75% in 2015 and 85% in 2016 and 2017.

Despite fears it could be scrapped again completely, it is now going to be restored to 100%, meaning those eligible will receive a double payment starting on Monday.

Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty said yesterday: “I am very happy to announce the Christmas CHRISTMAS window displays have been installed at the vacant Clerys building in Dublin.

It comes years after the iconic O’connell Street store shut down in 2015 with the loss of 460 jobs.

The scene takes us on a trip down memory lane as the exhibit documents “Clerys Through the Ages”.

Derek Mcgrath from Core Capital said: “We look forward to restoring Clerys to its place as a landmark attraction in Dublin and we recognise and respect the history of the building over the past 165 years.

“Bringing back the Christmas windows is just the beginning.

“Clerys was acquired in October by a partnership between Dublin based Oakmount and Core Capital, and pan European real estate investment managers, Europa Capital.” bonus is being paid again this year and will be available next week.

“Benefitting all recipients of long-term social welfare payments including carers, people with disabilities, pensioners and lone parents, the bonus is timed to assist people with the extra expenses occurred over Christmas. “In many homes across Ireland families depend on this bonus and – owing to sound economic and fiscal management by the Government – this will be the first time in a decade in which we can make a 100% Christmas bonus and provide increased support at this time of the year.”

Those entitled to a further education and training allowance will also receive the cash.

But people coming from jobseeker’s payments must have been on them for 15 months.

The bonus will also be paid to people getting blind welfare allowance, mobility allowance, and rehabilitative training allowances from the HSE.

Survivors of Thalidomide who get payments from the Department of Health also get the bonus.

This year’s bonus will be 100% of the normal weekly pension or benefit payment, with a minimum of €20

The bonus will be paid to those eligible as part of their normal weekly payments between

Dec 3 and Dec 7