Cost of living: €200 lump sum for pensioners, carers, disabled and lone parents among measures

The total cost of social protection measures contained in the new raft of supports to help ease the pressure on families and households is over €400million.

Sources have confirmed that the overall package will be “more targeted than universal” and will be primarily focused on tackling child poverty.

Pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and lone parents will all receive a €200 lump sum as part of a cost-of-living package due to be unveiled on Tuesday.

Parents are set to get a €100 child benefit lump sum and the Government has agreed to increase the Back-to-School Clothing & Footwear Allowance by €100 in a bid to protect the most vulnerable.