Vol. 502 No. 6
257 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when old age pensioners and other social welfare recipients will receive annual increases at the time of the budget announcement instead of months later. [8791/99]
The question of the effective dates of any future increases in social welfare payments is a matter to be decided in a budgetary context having regard to the available resources and in the light of the Government's other priorities. In practice, final decisions on such matters are taken quite close to the date of their announcement on budget day.
However, as a lead-in time of a number of months is needed to make the required legislative and administrative changes, e.g. enactment of the necessary social welfare legislation, printing of pension books etc. it would not be feasible for social welfare recipients to receive increases in their payments at the time of the budget announcement.
