Child benefit, pensions, fuel allowance all increased

Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy has announced that social welfare benefits will take effect from January 1st of next year. In total the Minister said Social Welfare improvements will cost €635m.

He announced an increase of £10 or €12.70 per week in the Old Age Pension, bringing the rates for the contributory pension to £116 per week and for non-contributory pensions to £105 per week.