The Social Welfare Bill passed all stages in the Dail late last night and goes to the Seanad today. The Bill gives effect to social welfare increases announced in the December Budget.

Some increases come in May, but Opposition deputies called for the increases to begin in April. Mr Tommy Broughan (Labour) said some benefit increases, including child benefit, would not come in until September, when the parents incurred most cost.

Fine Gael's spokesman, Mr Jim O'Keeffe, said a couple earning £100,000 between them would gain £77 a week, while a couple where the husband was disabled and both were unable to work as a consequence would gain £7.