Taoiseach Enda Kenny says people contacted Government last week to say they had been paid extra.

He said the increased wages were due to budgetary changes introduced last year being realised.

Government was very anxious to see the benefits of a rising economy spread throughout the country.

“And that people can see that in their daily lives but also in their cheques which is very important when the payment comes,” he said.

Speaking on his way into this morning’s Cabinet meeting, he said: “It was great to see last week some people contacting and saying to us, ‘I’m not sure whether it was a mistake or not but I seem to have got extra money on this last payment’.

“And we want to continue that.”

He said the Government had last year produced the first budget in seven years which resulted in some money being given back to people.

He hoped that flexibility could continue as Government prepared for Budget 2016.