Heather Humphreys in favour of targeted and universal cost-of-living supports

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys: "There are a lot of working people out there that are not on social welfare payments that are feeling the pinch, what we managed to do the last time was a mix of universal and targeted and that's so we can help people with the cost of living right across all sections of society."

The Social Protection Minister has suggested she is in favour of new cost-of-living supports that are both targeted and universal.

The Government is due to discuss further once-off payments and will also have to decide whether any of the subsidies and tax measures will be retained beyond the end of this month.