Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government made a decision that 1.2 million people would receive €260 million in supports as part of the spring payments. We have taken a number of different steps to help people with the cost of living. That has included increases to weekly payments, double payments, and has also included lump-sum payments. At the end of last year, the Deputy will remember we had the double payment in October and at Christmas and we also had lump-sum payments - we had a €400 lump sum on the fuel allowance, €500 lump sum carer's support grant and a €500 lump sum for disability payments. The Government's decision in terms of the spring package was that it would be a €200 lump-sum payment. That is what the Government decided, that is what my Department did and it was paid at the end of April.

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