It is reported in The Irish Times this morning that the date on which social welfare increases will come into effect next year has not yet been agreed. Understandably, this has been the subject of considerable debate on national and local radio this morning. In recent months, the Labour Party argued for social welfare payments to be at least indexed. I welcome the fact that indexation has been delivered, although for some reason child benefit has been excluded from indexation and will not be increased.

That said, I cannot recall a Minister's spokesperson making an announcement on budget day that the date on which social welfare increases were to take effect had not been agreed. Apparently, such a statement was made yesterday by the spokesperson for the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Leo Varadkar, who is seated beside the Taoiseach. An increase provided on 31 March 2017 will amount to €3.75 for the year rather than €5, while an increase provided on 1 March 2017 will be a little higher. The House needs to know what the position is before continuing with the debate on the budget. People who will make plans following this modest restoration of moneys also need to know exactly when increases in payments are to be made. Has an agreement been reached in government on the date on which all increases in social welfare payments will come into effect next year or do Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil intend to split the difference and have some sort of St. Patrick's Day gift?

The position is that when we considered the possibility of increasing benefits for a range of social protection recipients, I had a very strong view that increases should apply universally across the sector and that nobody should be left out. Obviously, the extent and range of the increases cover a substantial number of people and will generate a substantial bill. A €5 increase for pensioners is better than indexation and the €5 increase in other payments, including those to widows, blind people, the unemployed, the disabled and persons in receipt of invalidity benefits, is a little better than indexation would deliver. The payments will be made across the month of March and the matter will be dealt with in detail by the Minister for Social Protection when the social welfare Bill is published. That is the position as of now.

I am afraid that is not a satisfactory position. The Taoiseach and I worked together for five years and even in the worst of times, we did not publish a budget document without knowing the precise figures. The Government has published tables that will be debated in the House. There is a cost involved for every week a payment is made. Will all the increases in social welfare benefits be paid in the same week? Will recipients of the pension, the blind pension, disability benefit and carer's allowance receive increases on the same day or will the increases be staggered? Alternatively, are all these matters still under discussion? If the latter is the case, it would be an unacceptable situation. Before the House embarks on the budget debate in a few minutes, Deputies need to know the dates on which social welfare increases are to be made.

Subject to the passage of the social welfare Bill, people will be in a position to receive their payments. The Bill will be published in two weeks.

Are the documents outlining the costings accurate?

All the costings are fully available. People say they would like to have the payments made as early as possible in the new year but all these things cost money.

The Government must make a decision because that is what Governments do.

The Government did not have an endless pot at its disposal. The position is that the Bill will be published in two weeks. I hope it receives the support of all Members because so many people receive a universal payment. The details and dates will be available when the Bill is published and processed.