Social welfare recipients are to receive a €200 lump sum, senior Government Ministers have agreed. 

Last night, coalition party leaders met with the Ministers for Finance, Public Expenditure and Social Protection to agree the details of this latest round of cost of living payments.

The €400 million social welfare package will also include a one off €100 extra child benefit payment; a further €100 extra will also be added to the back to school allowance.

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys secured an expansion of the hot school meals programme for primary schools. 

Minister Heather Humphreys. Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire/PA Images

The 9% reduced rate of VAT on the hospitality sector has been extended until August and cuts to excise on fuel are being retained until later in the year - after which they will gradually be phased out. 

The package falls short of initial expectations; opposition parties are expected to call for a much larger investment from the Government in what Ministers say will be the last intervention before October's budget.

Main image: Hands of a pensioner with money. Picture by: Alamy.com