John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the increase in social welfare payments granted in the budget for 2005 was intended for payment from 1 January 2005 and not the first payment date, as was the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7002/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The effective dates for increases in social welfare weekly rates of payment are determined by reference to the payment weeks for each scheme, which may commence on different days of the week and by the fact that some schemes are paid in advance and some in arrears. Accordingly, the effective dates vary for different schemes and do not necessarily coincide with the first day of January. The approach adopted in relation to the substantial increases announced in the budget for 2005 was consistent with that adopted in previous years and there are no proposals to depart from this approach.

Over the period from 1997 to 2002, this Government brought forward from June the effective dates of increases in weekly rates by 23 weeks and all increases in these rates are now due with effect from the first week in January.