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The social welfare Christmas bonus will be paid next week regardless of the outcome of the political crisis, Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty has said.
The extra money that was needed was awarded on Thursday by the Joint Oireachtas committee and those payments will be automatically paid next week, she said.
However the Social Welfare Bill, which allows in many cases for a €5 increase, "is in limbo", she told RTÉ's Today with Sean O'Rourke show.
Ms Doherty said the Dáil started discussing the bill on Thursday night but got only as far as the second stage.
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Increases due in social welfare payments next year were now at risk, as was pay restoration due under a review of FEMPI, as legislation under these areas was not finished, she warned.