TDs debated a Social Democrats' motion earlier on Wednesday, calling for the means test for the Carer's Allowance payment to be removed

Tánaiste Simon Harris said that he was not convinced there was a need for a ‘significant rise in the dole’.

Eileen Hackett has been refused the means-tested pension payments due to her late husband leaving savings of about €170,000 when he died in 2014.

The total cost of social protection measures is over €400 million.

Budget 2023: Social welfare payments across the board will rise by €12 per week for working-age recipients