The 'bonus' social welfare payments which were announced in Budget 2023 last month have started to be paid to the thousands who make claims for them.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath allocated €23.4 billion for payments of social welfare in the financial plan for the next 12 months.
These included a number of 'bonus' payments before Christmas to help people with the cost of living crisis as prices for the likes of petrol, diesel, food and electricity continue to skyrocket.
