Fianna Fáil pledges welfare increases 'as resources permit'
Fianna Fáil is planning a series of pension and welfare reforms, to assist carers, lone parents, older people and job seekers.
It will set out a five-point plan this afternoon, which it is vowing to implement if it is in Government after the next General Election.
Fianna Fail's Social Protection spokesman Willie O'Dea said that the long-term plan is aimed at enhancing Ireland's social fabric.
"Gradually increasing the actual core social welfare benefits to bring people towards the internationally accepted poverty line, restore the free telephone rental allowance, the fuel allowance, to 32 weeks and the household benefits package," he said.
"Also improvements in the living alone allowance.
"Now they would cost considerably more, but it would be spread over a five-year life term of the Government, and they would be implemented as resources permitted."
