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Brian Lawless/PA

People on the dole will get a Christmas present from the government this year

The Christmas Bonus will be reintroduced this year – one of two increases in the area of social welfare announced in today’s Budget.

MINISTER FOR PUBLIC Finance and Expenditure Brendan Howlin has announced that the Christmas bonus for people who are in receipt of long-term social welfare payments will return this year.

In his Budget 2015 speech, Howlin said the numbers of people leaving the live register are “much higher than forecast”.

“The government has decided to allocate a portion of these savings to pay a 25% bonus to social welfare recipients this coming Christmas,” he said.

A minimum payment of €20 will be made to over 1.6 million people who are in receipet of the following payments:

  • State pensions
  • Invalidity pension
  • Widow’s pention
  • Guardian’s payment
  • One parent family payment
  • Deserted wife’s benefit
  • Carer’s allowance
  • Pre-retirement allowance
  • Disability allowance
  • Farm assist
  • Long-term jobseeker’s allowance
  • Back to work allowance
  • Community employment
  • Jobs initiative
  • Rural social scheme
  • Tús
  • Gateway
  • Domiciliary care allowance

Howlin added that this will be a current year payment from 2014 figures, clarifying that a similar bonus in Christmas 2015 will depend on the availability of savings in next year’s Social Protection budget.

This was one of two increases in the area of social welfare as Child Benefit is also being increased by €5. The move was welcomed by the Director of European Anti Poverty Network Ireland (EAPN) Robin Hanan, who said “many people have been driven deeper into poverty and the measures today begin to address the damage that has been done”.

SIPTU’s President, Jack O’Connor also said these measures would “help to alleviate the living conditions of some of the most vulnerable in society”.

There was mixed reaction among users on social media:

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91 Comments
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    Mute Twink's Teddy
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:01 PM

    I work and my USC goes up, people on the dole don’t work and they get bonuses, where the hell is the incentive in that?

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:24 PM

    Why don’t you go on the dole then if its so great. I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who would jump at the chance of doing your job.

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    Mute Twink's Teddy
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:27 PM

    Don’t be an idiot

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:39 PM

    You have a job, you are making money and you have something to do every day. You don’t have to send out endless CV’s every single day, go through countless interviews and receive the “Dear Brian” letters time and time again. You are moaning about USC when I would gladly pay it in an instant just to have a job and something to do . Listen if you are that pissed off about people on the dole getting and extra €47 for one week in a year coming up to Christmas send me your address and I will give you my “bonus”.

    I’d hate to see you go wanting!

    202
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    Mute ITS Student
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    Oct 15th 2014, 12:09 AM

    The class warfare towards the unemployed on here is really deplorable. Who are the people orchestrating this, public servants?

    37
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    Mute Tsar N Khan
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    Oct 15th 2014, 2:51 AM

    Brain you have said what I wanted to say cheers boy.thumbs up.

    27
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    Mute Hilda Gannon
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    Nov 4th 2014, 4:05 AM

    He speaks the truth, yet you call him an idiot! More fool you!

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    Mute Mike Boland
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:01 PM

    So as an earner of below the average wage in a company that can’t afford to hand out bonuses at xmas the government will surely give me this 25% benefit too right?
    It absolutely sickens me.

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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:10 PM

    Get over yourself ffs.

    It’ll be there for you or yours if your job ever goes, did you ever know any one who was unemployed, were you?.

    If so, ya miserable selfish so and so.

    Pittances like this are recouped by the tax man in short order, as it is spent , earned by a shop, distributors to shop paid, staff paid, income taxes etc.

    Did you not happen to notice the economic and employment collapse?

    219
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    Mute Mike Boland
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:12 PM

    Ah seanie you are consistent if nothing else. Consistently full of your own hot air.

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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:15 PM

    I just have zero tolerance for the béal bocht and self pity merchants than Ireland is full of.

    If you make less than average wage then do something about it and come back here in a few years and say you make double the average wage.

    Instead of feeling sorry for yourself and having a go at people who had their lives blown apart in an economy collapse.

    174
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    Mute Fluich It
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:16 PM

    Seanie you muppet…”Pittances like this are recouped by the tax man in short order”, you make it sound like the ‘tax man’ gets his money from a magic well. for ‘recouped’ read taxes levied/paid by people who work. Clown.

    131
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    Mute Caoimhin O Hailpin
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:18 PM

    very well said Seanie….maith thu

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    Mute Simon Barnes
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:24 PM

    what about if they shop online seanie ?

    31
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    Mute Mike Boland
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:35 PM

    You have a go at me for having an opinion on what is an election stunt handout and then lecture me on the poor mouth? You really are something else.
    I’m fully aware of the economic collapse that occurred Seanie, u and your gombeen FF’ers caused it.

    58
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    Mute Ian
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:44 PM

    If you feel that bad I’ll trade you my 188 a week BTEA for that job…… You can even have the extra 47 quid for Christmas

    78
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    Mute Caoimhin O Hailpin
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:51 PM

    Chris you do realise there are not enough jobs to go around

    44
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    Mute Elaine ní dhalaigh
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:59 PM

    Mick I for one would be glad of a job and you can have the bonus gladly , let’s not generalise everyone on social welfare or unemployed because most would love a job

    59
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    Mute Mike Boland
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    Oct 14th 2014, 6:05 PM

    Generalisation was not my intention and there are thousands of people who are more than entitled to this. Anyone of us could lose our job in the morning.
    That being said anyone on job seekers for more than 2 years should not get this. That’s just my opinion and lots won’t agree but the incentive to work is being eroded in this country. It’s not PC to acknowledge this fact but it’s true.

    44
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    Mute DM
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    Oct 14th 2014, 6:08 PM

    @seanie I know someone close to me (27 years old) who left college 4 years ago, lives at home, pays nothing and has never paid taxes. They are applying for jobs they will never get (they do this to keep social welfare office happy). They are rubbing their hands in delight at this present they dont need, this is horrible because this person is not a minority in the system and I know cases worse where people are working full time getting cash in hand, tips and the full dole. I hope this one example keeps you happy for now. (They are off to Thailand in march on holdays btw, well for some not working). More should be done to help the REAL people in need and more needs to be done to stop people sitting on the dole like a pig in sh#t.

    64
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    Mute Mr Phil Officer
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    Oct 14th 2014, 7:13 PM

    Where do you think the welfare money is spent ffs?. It all drips back into the kitty anyway.

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    Mute Hilda Gannon
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    Nov 4th 2014, 4:01 AM

    The incentive to work is being eroded in this country … BY THE LACK OF SUITABLE JOBS … Not because people are living high on the paltry sums the get from welfare. If they’re (most of them anyway) on job seekers its because they can’t find work here and most likely can’t afford to uproot themselves and their families to find work as émigrés in the few remaining countries where reasonably paid work is still available. Personally speaking, I’d be gone in a hot minute if: 1. I had the money; 2. a job to go to; 3. my family sorted; 4. A bit of security in terms of accommodation; 5. A way to bring my dogs; and 6. I were 15 years younger. I’d take job any day over a miserable, subsistence-level handout that I’ve already paid for in my PAYE & PRSI & USC over the years I was able to work.

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    Mute Erianna Endurance Bogda
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    Nov 25th 2015, 3:45 PM

    I got my already programmed and blanked ATM card to withdraw the maximum of $1000 daily for a maximum of 20 days. I am so happy about this because i got mine last week and I have used it to get $6000 for free. Jane is giving out the card just to help the poor and needy though it is illegal but it is something nice and she is not like other scam pretending to have the ATM cards. And no one gets caught when using the card. get yours from her. Just send her an email on janeashey333@yahoo.com and be happy like Me…

    1
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    Mute Willie Harpur
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:00 PM

    What about the people that actually work for a living????

    410
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    Mute Noel Hogan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:10 PM

    Maybe some of us don’t mind?

    I’m happy to see some of my tax being given to our own people at Christmas than given to bondholders the rest of the year. A small step in the right direction.

    228
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    Mute Nicole Walsh
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:14 PM

    What about the people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own and this year can afford to put a bit extra oil in their tank to keep their kids warm, a bit extra “goodies” at christmas to treat their children or to worry less about their electricity bill over the winter.

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    Mute Caoimhin O Hailpin
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:17 PM

    Is that Noel Hogan former Labour candidadte for Ennis UDC ?

    18
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    Mute Noel Hogan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:20 PM

    Careful Nicole, if we acknowledge these people we might have to end up having a sensible and well informed discussion about the the reality of work and social welfare in the 21st Century. That wouldn’t do.

    We’d be much better off spreading the myth that all SW recipients are lazy freeloaders. It means we don’t have to think for ourselves and can just be content with sloganising.

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    Mute Laura Scanlan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:35 PM

    Noel I couldn’t of said it better..

    44
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    Mute emma fitz
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:49 PM

    I think that stereotype you are admonishing people for assuming could be easily proven where I live. Monday afternoon spent either in the local pub or bookies….
    They’ll get a couple of extra bets with that bonus.

    33
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    Mute Noel Hogan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 6:40 PM

    You’ll always find examples that conform to a stereotype. Just because Ireland has a high rate of alcohol abuse doesn’t mean we’re all alcoholics.

    If the majority of the 11.5% of people on the dole really didn’t want to work then even in the good times we would have had a similar rate. Instead it was a just a few percent.

    34
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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:09 PM

    the people who are working get an extra €170 odd per year, the unemployed get €20-€50 odd a year. thats what you get.

    17
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    Mute Caoimhin O Hailpin
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:56 PM

    Noel you are right well said

    8
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    Mute Bay Wanderers FC
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:16 PM

    Long term dole heads shouldnt receive this.

    179
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    Mute ITS Student
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:41 PM

    Will never happen. Like it or lump it. There will always be a social welfare system in Ireland.

    34
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    Mute Andrew Cosgrave
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:08 PM

    Fantastic, let’s give the lazy another reason to stay lazy. Dont worry I will work all through xmas to pay for your bonus.

    165
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    Mute ITS Student
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    Oct 14th 2014, 6:04 PM

    Perhaps they should vote this government back in just to piss you guys off!

    10
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    Mute Julia85
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:56 PM

    Maybe count yourself lucky to have a job…. You really believe 11% of this country would rather sit at home in poverty than work? Those on the middle rung looking down on people who genuinely need help and we call ourselves a society.
    I work and pay my taxes and am happy to see people like my parents (redundant in the recession, not much work out there for people who are now aged late 50′s) have a little bit of a brighter christmas after a bleak year. Believe me life on the dole is not a bed of roses and the likes of you make it worse.

    20
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    Mute johngahan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:00 PM

    Hopefully this will go towards some glimmer of joy for the children of impoverished households on Christmas morning.

    144
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    Mute Inntalitarian
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:01 PM

    Yeah that or a couple of six packs and a box of fags

    212
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    Mute Caoimhin O Hailpin
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:08 PM

    That comment is precisely why FGlab are so unpopular and out of touch with ordinary people and did so badly in recent elections

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    Mute Mr Phil Officer
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:42 PM

    It wasn’t people on the social welfare that bankrupted the country, in fact the people on that rung never seen a penny of the “Celtic tiger” but are suffering for it now.

    46
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    Mute Glen
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:08 PM

    Can’t believe some of the comments on here. Just because a family are receiving SW some people think that the 25% will go on booze & smokes. I hope you are actually pulling your hair out over this measly few bob.

    111
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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:12 PM

    These are the losers that would be the first to moan about surviving on the dole when they loose their jobs and it happens to everyone at some stage in the modern economy.

    86
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    Mute Débora Commins
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:54 PM

    I agree. People who work think that people on the dole are happy. I wish they lose their job and struggle to find a new one to see how depressing the situation is.

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    Mute Malachy Mc Carron
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    Oct 14th 2014, 6:00 PM

    Sean u have to look at it from a different perspective , I would not begrudge a struggling person that extra bonus at Xmas time , the main thing people r giving out about is that the lifers on the dole get this bonus. As usual it’s an easy fix but the government don’t like easy solutions . Y can’t SW b staggered like every year it’s reduced by 10-20% , then if u can afford to not work more power to you, if not you r forced to take min wage job like most people. And anyone who has never had a job and paid tax should b cut of immediately simple isn’t it

    24
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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:15 PM

    agreed Glen, never once bothered me that my taxes were helping SW, if it wasn’t going there it would be going on income tax. it will always be going out of the wage packet. its when its going out of the countries economy i then have a problem with it.

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    Mute CAK
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:26 PM

    Its a bit of a slap in the face to say ‘ well now the economy is recovering so we’re going to give extra money to those who did absolutely nothing to help the economy recover’ apparently highest numbers are now working since the boom times – why not reward all these workers by reducing USC by even a small bit.

    I am sure some families on SW are there through no fault of their own but as a person from a small town I can list multiple people from my year in school who never worked and have no intention of working and the idea of them getting extra money is very annoying. In particular one girl who recently popped out her second child, is actually earning more than me between her children allowance, dole, single mothers allowance and is constantly putting pictures on facebook of her new house and garden courtesy of the government. Its sickening. Surely this could be tailored to those who are not long term unemployed.

    109
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    Mute ITS Student
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    Oct 14th 2014, 6:03 PM

    surely by now you realize that the unemployed vote is too important to avoid for any government? If anything, your comment would only serve to strengthen that possibility.

    12
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    Mute Michael Fanning
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:18 PM

    That’s great news – punish the working people and reward the skanger pyjama brigade who never contributed a cent yet again – great country altogether!

    107
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    Mute Caoimhin O Hailpin
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:20 PM

    its €47

    38
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    Mute Caoimhin O Hailpin
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:23 PM

    also Michael in 2008 there were approx 100,000 unemployed whereas now its approx 300,000….How come the extra 200,000 were working prior to the recession…

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    Mute Bob Moore
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:28 PM

    Ah, the great divide and conquer debate, come on in, we’ve been expecting you. Fighting over scraps from the masters table, ffs. As Caomhin O’Halpin said it’s 47 euro, get a grip.

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    Mute Glen
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:32 PM

    Michael
    I hope this measly 47 quid doesn’t ruin your lavish Christmas or put you into cardiac arrest that would be a hardship on you and yours!
    You do know what hardship is Michael ?

    43
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    Mute Ann McNamara
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:13 PM

    Its a complete joke that a 25% Christmas bonus is been given. The hard working professional who spent years in college who work long hours in pressurized jobs are been screwed with an increase in USC to 8%.
    The government is trying to create jobs though multi national companies why would they come to Ireland when there top executives will be penalized by these measures.
    They should have cut the social welfare by 25% for people who wont take up an job bridge or any employment .

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    Mute Glen
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:19 PM

    You seem upset there Ann !
    You do realise that if SW was cut by 25% then crime would increase. All those years in college and you couldn’t figure that equation out tut tut tut !

    60
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    Mute Caoimhin O Hailpin
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:19 PM

    Ann its €47

    42
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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:21 PM

    The new bracket is hardly punitive and only affects a very small amount of workers.

    26
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    Mute Luke McDermott
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:45 PM

    It’s also negated a bit by the increase in the higher rate band, the decrease in the higher rate, and not to mention the decrease in both the rates and bands of the lower USC rates.

    8
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    Mute Ian
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:50 PM

    Kind of an ironic complaint when a large portion of people that will get the extra 47 quid are the same people that pre-collapse paid the taxes to put those professionals thru college

    30
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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:16 PM

    indeed Ian

    6
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    Mute Thomas Farrell
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:11 PM

    And here’s me thinking a bonus is an incentive for work, time to hand in the notice to work more money to be made sitting on me hole

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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:12 PM

    Self pity is not pity.

    51
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    Mute Ian
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    Oct 14th 2014, 6:10 PM

    Any chance you could post your employers address ….. Might stick a CV in the post if they are going to have that job going up for grabs

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    Mute Julia85
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:01 PM

    Enjoy that Thomas! It’s not the bed of roses you imagine. There’s plenty of people on the dole who will happily take your job :)

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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:14 PM

    you know €600million of your precious tax is going abroad? anything to say about that or happy to banter on about your own people getting €40 something million in tax? get your priorities sorted. most of it will be spent here, whereas… yeah

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    Mute Mac Ready
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:41 PM

    Yeah I can understand a bonus to someone who lost their job in the last 2 to 3 years, but for the career choice dolers, who have never worked or made the effort to look for work or get state offered training they shouldn’t get the bonus!

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    Mute ITS Student
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    Oct 14th 2014, 6:10 PM

    it’s difficult to generalize!

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    Mute Michael Halligan
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    Dec 6th 2014, 2:28 PM

    Too right Mac, how come the people who’ve just gone on the dole don’t get this bonus only the people on “long-term jobseekers allowance” qualify…. in other words the career dole lords.

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    Mute Havardi
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:08 PM

    Just in time for their first water bill.

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:28 PM

    No guarantee they’ll pay it.

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    Mute Havardi
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:41 PM

    Fingers crossed they don’t. I’d much rather they spent it on christmas than a government quango.

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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:35 PM

    Jesus lads. Its less than €50 we are talking about. Nobody will be upgrading to the iphone 6 with that. It will pay for the turkey and a bit of ham at christmas.

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    Mute Simon Barnes
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    Oct 14th 2014, 7:37 PM

    minimum payment is €20.. so take that and multiply by 1.6 million then add on a bit more as some will get the €47 you could be looking at 40 million in xmas hand out..
    Didn’t know we had 40 million to throw away

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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:12 PM

    yep Irish, i wouldnt begrudge them, and Simon, we have €600 million to throw away to the 3rd world. how about that? can you afford that?

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    Mute Kay Keane
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    Oct 14th 2014, 8:05 PM

    Would glady swap the bonus for a job .At 55 I don, t even get replys to cvs .Sorry to be one of the long term unemployed, Started working at 14 .went on working untill 7 years ago job went bust .I must go and light another cig and open a beer .Jesus cop on not everyone on sw want to be , and they are not all swigging beer and smoking

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    Mute Andrew Cosgrave
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:28 PM

    Joan Burton wondered where all the social welfare people got those fancy expensive phones, well expect to see upgrades to the iPhone 6 after this decision

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:38 PM

    Can you upgrade for a one €47.

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    Mute Andrew Cosgrave
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:29 PM

    You probably can and let’s face it most of these scammers on welfare will have ways of doing it. Greatest minds to never have worked

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    Mute j.k @irishpoint
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:35 PM

    in other words a big thank you to all people taking up slave labour minimum wage jobs with no disposable income & help falsify realistic figures on the live unemployment register

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    Mute inproperganda
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:22 PM

    blushirts tring to buy the sheep off with santa claus… Muppets

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:30 PM

    Seems more a Labour move tbh.Social welfare p*sses off FG supporters.

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    Mute Susan Ni Gearailt
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:23 PM

    How many people is Seanie inviting to his pity party ??!!

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    Mute Eoin Dineen
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    Oct 14th 2014, 6:00 PM

    Might want to clarify that this is only for those receiving certain payments: http://www.welfare.ie/en/pages/bud15s5.aspx

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    Mute the
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    Oct 15th 2014, 2:56 AM

    Why didn’t they describe it as a maximum of 47 euro extra at Christmas as a one off? Oh right, because it highlights how mean it is. The government think they can spend an extra 7 million or so and buy the next election; I will deliberately not vote for them because they think people are stupid

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    Mute the
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    Oct 15th 2014, 2:59 AM

    Actually seems like the figure is 63.5 million .. Meh, point still kind of stands

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    Mute Sharon Hayde
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    Oct 15th 2014, 8:15 PM

    There are a lot of single mothers like myself struggling to get by on the money we get having to get 217 on one family payment my rent gets taking outta this which leaves me with 165 to live on they have also taking from the poor and giving it to the rich its about time

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    Mute Michael Halligan
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    Dec 6th 2014, 2:24 PM

    I love how you only get it if your a professional dole lord and on “long-term” jobseekers allowance.

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    Mute Christine Astrospirit Klein
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    Oct 15th 2014, 9:55 AM

    Yeah complaining about a present you get???

    i agree these people go home and try to spell GRATEFULNESS and POSITIVITY!!!

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