Over 48,000 social welfare recipients will receive the Christmas bonus in the Shannonside region this week. €370 million in payments will be made to lone parents, carers, pensioners and the unemployed over the course of this week. The Christmas Bonus will be paid alongside recipients' regular payments, starting today.
Locally, there are 21,500 recipients in Roscommon, followed by Longford at 14,900, while there are 11,800 in Leitrim. Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, says he understands the difficulties people are facing.