Social welfare payments going up by €5.00 tomorrow

Social protection payments, such as the state pension and unemployment benefit are rising by €5 per week from tomorrow.

The changes were announced in Budget 2017 by Finance Minister Michael Noonan last October.

Fianna Fail said it had campaigned strongly for the increases as part of its support for the Fine Gael-led Coalition.

Kildare North TD Frank O'Rourke said: “There was resistance from Fine Gael but we held our firm on our commitment and ultimately secured a rise in social protection payments under Budget 2017.

"While €5 per week isn’t a life changing sum, it is a step in the right direction, and rightly sets a precedent in terms of subsequent budgets.

“Fianna Fáil is committing to providing a better standard of living for everyone on a social protection payment, and ensuring that those who can work have a viable pathway back into the workforce.

“I’ve no doubt that we will see members of the Fine Gael party jumping up and down to welcome the increase, but they need to remember that they had to be pushed to support it. Fine Gael has a very poor record on supporting vulnerable people."