The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, is to increase the adult dependency allowances from £90 to £105 early next month. The allowances are paid to people on low pay, such as cleaners and other part-time employees.
Responding to criticism of the allowances in a specially commissioned FAS report into the cleaning industry, details of which appeared in yesterday's Irish Times, a spokeswoman for the Minister said the increase would also help to ease the problems. Mr Ahern was signing the regulations immediately, the spokeswoman said.