The Government is considering bringing forward the payment of social welfare increases to be proposed in the Budget by about two weeks. It is one of ii number of measures currently before the Cabinet.
The Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, has already brought forward the date for implementing such increases from mid July to mid June.
He has long argued that welfare increases should be synchronised with the tax year and the new proposal, if adopted, would bring payments into May.
It is one of a number of reforms covering the areas of taxation, PRSI and welfare, contained in discussion documents currently under consideration by the Government.
Government sources said yesterday, however, that no final decision has yet been taken in any of these areas.