In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, I have secured a package of €2.2 billion for Social Protection measures as part of Budget 2023. This represents the largest Budget package for the Department of Social Protection in the history of the State and will help to support our pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, lone parents and families during this difficult period.
As part of this package, a wide range of lump-sum payments will be paid between now and the end of the year. My Department is currently working on developing the IT systems to issue each of these payments and a timetable with the full schedule of dates for each payment will be published shortly. It is intended that the Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment will issue in the second half of October.