The Dáil has approved billions of Euro in additional funding for the Department of Social Protection.

The Department was set to run out of money next week as a result of the COVID-19 wage support programmes.

The Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty told the house that an extra €6.8bn was needed - €4.3bn of which will go towards the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and the wage subsidy scheme.

She said all payments would stop without the approval.

“I am referring not just to the payments relating to the pandemic but also all of our ordinary payments,” she said.

“Child benefit, pensions, carers payments, payments to lone parents, payments to people with disabilities and much more besides, including our community employment and all of our employment services – indeed our carer’s respite grant which is due next week.

“Without the approval today, we can’t proceed to make the necessary arrangements next week to process the due payments and all of our payments will cease.”

She told the house that the COVID-19 supports will be extended beyond the original June dates; however, she said she will bring forward proposed changes the payments in the coming days.

Fianna Fáil social protection spokesman Willie O'Dea warned that, in some ways, TDs were being asked to vote blind.

“We are in a situation where we are being asked today as a House to vote on a sum, an extra sum, without any information whatsoever as to the future of this particular payment,” he said.

Minister Doherty acknowledged that it was not an ideal situation – but warned that the department would soon run out of money.

She said a decision on how long the payments will run for will be made next week.