2026-01-15

8. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has given consideration to additional cost-of-living measures, given the increased rates of poverty after housing costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2838/26]

As the Minister will know, and as a direct result of Government policy, the housing situation in this State is - what is the word we are using now? Is it "crisis"? "Emergency"? "Disaster"? Any of those would be used, but "expensive" and, in many instances, "unaffordable" are the words people will most use. My question relates to additional cost-of-living measures. Has the Minister given any consideration to such measures, given the rate of housing costs in the State?

We are fully aware, as a Government, of the challenges facing individuals and families. We have consistently ensured that core social welfare rates have increased at or above the rate of inflation. For example, as I said earlier, core rates increased by about 20% over the period between 2021 and 2025, which is more than the rate of inflation of 18.5% over the same period, and the increase of 4.1% on most payments announced in the October budget exceeds the increase in consumer prices reported by the CSO of 3.2% over the 12 months to November 2025. We supplemented these rate increases with further supports. We have decided, however, to move away from the use of one-off payments, which are difficult to target. Instead we are prioritising permanent measures targeted to those who need them most. This year we will invest €28.9 billion in social protection measures, which includes more than €1.15 billion in new measures comprising an above-inflation increase of €10 per week in core rates and significant targeted measures, including €320 million in increases dedicated to alleviating child poverty. This investment enabled the largest child support payment increase in the history of the State. This payment increased by €16 per week to €78 for children aged 12 and over, which is a 26% increase, and a weekly increase of €8 to €58 for children under 12, which is a 16% increase. This brings the total annual value of the child support payment to more than €3,000 for each child under 12 and more than €4,000 for each child of 12 and over. Since 2019 the value of the child support payment has increased by about 110% for children over 12 and by 71% for children under 12. The budget package also includes significant supports to help householders with the cost of heating and other energy bills, including, for the first time, families receiving the working family payment qualifying for the fuel allowance. These are targeted rather than one-off measures. They will give increased certainty to recipients in need and to those on the lowest incomes across our State.

The Minister mentioned the rate of inflation and did not mention the rate of housing inflation, the cost of housing. That was specifically mentioned in the question. The cost of housing in this State is rising and has risen every single year, whether people are renting or are struggling to buy. After housing costs, 40% of renters live on an income below the poverty line. That is 43% for local authority tenants. It is almost 60% for those on HAP, RAS or rent supplement, who are living below the poverty line when we take it into account. The Minister is not getting the full picture if he is not taking into account the cost of housing. Perhaps in a normal economy where the Government had not crashed the housing market repeatedly into a wall, leaving out housing figures might give an accurate picture, but it does not, because when we take housing into consideration, we actually see the true rate of poverty and the fact that Social Justice Ireland, the ESRI and others pointed out that the increases in the last budget did not do anything other than impose austerity on people and do not keep pace with the rising costs.

In relation to rent, the Department of Social Protection rent supplement as it exists today is seen as a short-term support paid to families and individuals as an initial payment where they first encounter difficulties in meeting rent costs. Longer-term support is given through the housing assistance payment. The rent limits applied on rent supplement are aligned with those on the housing assistance payment. Expenditure for rent supplement paid by the Department of Social Protection in 2025 is provisionally estimated at just over €52.2 million, which compares with the 2026 estimate of over €570 million for HAP and the rental accommodation scheme within the Vote of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. A review of rent limits is a matter on which my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, is taking the lead. Officials from my Department are working on that review. Any changes to the rent supplement payments will then be aligned to the outcome of the housing assistance payment review. Various arrangements and flexibilities are in place in relation to rent supplement payments, with higher rent supplement payments that are payable in certain circumstances. For instance, my Department, in conjunction with Threshold, has a special protocol in Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Galway, Meath and Wicklow. Threshold advises, advocates and intervenes on behalf of families or individuals in receipt of rent supplement who are in danger of losing tenancies. We also have a protocol with the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive and with Cuan to assist people fleeing domestic violence.

Half of Dublin is on homeless HAP. I know what it is and the Minister does not need to explain it to me. The fact is that when we factor in housing costs, we see the true picture of poverty in the State. A quarter of children under 16 years of age, 26.7%, are growing up in poverty. Almost a quarter of workers, 22.3%, are living in poverty. These are very real figures. I ask the Minister to give consideration to additional cost-of-living-measures for people who are experiencing deprivation in the here and now. I am aware of homeless HAP. I talk to people every single day of the week. As I said, half of Dublin is probably on it at this stage, because all it is doing is fuelling those price increases for rent. I am sure that keeps some people happy, but the people I represent want to know whether the Minister is considering short-term measures, because they are in dire straits.

That is why we have delivered. Deputy O'Reilly has raised child poverty in particular. I have mentioned and reiterate the record increases in the child support payment, which goes to those on the lowest incomes. There is €1.15 billion in new measures for 2026 in the Department. The child support payment, to reiterate, increased by €16 per week to €78 for children aged 12, which is a 26% increase in the child support payment, and increased by €8 to €58 for children under 12, which is a 16% increase. The total annual value of the child support payment is €3,000 for each child under 12 and over €4,000 for each child aged 12 and over. That goes to those specifically on the lowest incomes. As we discussed earlier, we have also increased the fuel allowance by €5 per week, which is a 15% increase. We will continue to work with the Department of housing in relation to supports offered through rent supplement for housing costs.

It would be quicker if the Minister just said, "No". Is he considering additional cost-of-living measures given that people are absolutely battered? I have read out the figures to him that show that a quarter of children are living in poverty and nearly a quarter of workers are living in poverty. If the Minister is not prepared to give the measures that will ensure that these people do not live in poverty then he should have just said, "No". I regret that the Minister does not have a better answer for me, to be brutally frank, because the cost of living in this State and the cost for people who are on low incomes, as we know, means they are very heavily exposed to any price increase, including any increase in the price of food, but the Government has refused to negotiate or rein in the large-scale supermarkets. Any increase in energy again is the same story. It is a case of saying to carry on lads and keep increasing the energy costs. All of the people who are on low incomes are very badly exposed to these. The very last one, and the one that is raised in this question, is housing. These people are right up against it. They need help and they need it now.

I have given Deputy O'Reilly the answer. I have given her the increases that we have made in payments this year. There is a €28.9 billion investment in social welfare, €1.15 billion in new measures, and €320 million to reduce child poverty. As I said, there are record increases in the child support payment. These increases are well in excess of inflation, particularly for children over the age of 12. Once again, I reiterate that there is a €16 per week increase to €78, which is 26%, and a weekly increase of €8 for children under 12, which is a 16% increase. That brings the child support payment to €3,000 for children under 12 and over €4,000 for children over 12. We have also increased the fuel allowance. There is a 15% increase of €5 per week for those on fuel allowance and we have extended it for the first time to those on the working family payment and to those in employment. There is a significant change in the fuel allowance and that will provide a lump sum to those on the working family payment at the beginning of March. I reiterate that there is a €28.9 billion investment in social welfare, with €1.15 billion in new measures for 2026, and €320 million of that €1.15 billion is for child poverty. We are addressing poverty on a daily basis and that kicked in from 1 January.