Search the record

figures now show a 12-month inflation rate of 3.2%. It was a callous and cruel budget that was cut-throat with cost-of-living supports. In defence of his compassionless budget, the Taoiseach acknowledged that these supports have been crucial in responding to the cost-of-living … crisis. Does he think the cost-of-living crisis is over? Does he believe that he has solved it? Does he think that the added costs of disability evaporated? He must believe he fixed that also. The Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, believed that these supports were not fiscally

have all seen both the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and the increase in the cost of living. When we go to the fuel tank at home or the petrol pump or when we go to Dunnes or SuperValu, we are seeing it. It is doubly … Gáis. This is how difficult it is for people. The Minister of State has a Government report which tells us that the cost of living for people with disabilities is higher than average. They are obliged to meet additional costs of between

their time at home; — the State-commissioned Indecon Cost of Disability in Ireland - Research Report, published in 2021, estimated the extra cost of living with a disability to be in the range of €8,700 - €12,300 (€10,490 - €14,830 adjusted for inflation); — Budget 2026 reduced income … good man. He is doing his best. Quite frankly, however, a reduction in incomes for people with disabilities, especially during a cost-of-living crisis, is absolutely appalling and shocking. When I asked the Minister for a report on the cost-of-disability payment in committee, he responded

cost-of-living crisis is affecting people across society but disproportionately impacting disabled people. It has been long established that disabled people already face major additional financial burdens that result from living with a disability in a society that is so poorly adapted to their needs. These costs … winter payment of €400 for disabled people and we are doing so again today. We actually agree with the Government that targeted cost-of-living measures are needed for groups most vulnerable to poverty, but the Government failed to take that opportunity in the recent budget

true. The next line reads: ... the State-commissioned Indecon Cost of Disability in Ireland - Research Report, published in 2021, estimated the extra cost of living with a disability to be in the range of €8,700 - €12,300 ... That is €14,800 when adjusted for inflation. We also … technology, accessible transport, modified homes and ongoing care. None of these are optional. All of them cost money. Budget 2026 stripped away cost-of-living supports, leaving disabled people up to €1,400 worse off. The Government knew the cost of disability was not addressed and chose

gave a VAT cut of €390 million to investor funds and developers. Right now, disabled people are struggling to pay the cost of living, including the costs of heating, food, and charging mobile equipment and wheelchairs, yet the Government refuses to implement our very straightforward proposal … gaslighting the public and disabled people, denying them their reality. It is saying they are not actually suffering from a cost-of-living crisis or facing these choices. They are facing these choices. This is their lived reality. I am really shocked that the Minister stood up here

sight. For the average person, this is shocking. At a time when families in Ireland are crippled by the cost-of-living crisis and after a budget that gave ordinary workers nothing, the Government is proposing that billions of euro be given to Ukraine for weapons … would rather see that money being invested in public services and cost-of-living supports across the European Union than in buying weapons of war. The European Union was founded as a peace project based on co-operation, reconciliation and shared prosperity. It was never intended to function

year. It is a no-brainer. Why not take from the super-rich, who can well afford it, to address the cost-of-living crisis for ordinary families? The Government refused to do it in the past but wealth inequality is still rising. Vital cost-of-living payments

data show a welcome reduction in enforced deprivation rates in 2025, including in relation to energy. We continue to monitor the cost-of-living situation carefully. However, given the additional supports provided by the Government as part of budget 2026, which are permanent, not temporary, supports, a cost

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 … 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

with disabilities. These costs are affecting everyone but this is the most vulnerable population in the State. They were vulnerable before the cost-of-living crisis. They will be vulnerable after the cost-of-living crisis. Importantly, I reject this question of it being a one-off payment

biggest players in the market and is profiteering to the tune of €706 million in the jaws of a cost-of-living crisis. There are 300,000 people currently in energy arrears. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has said it dealt with a quarter … families. In 2024, the Government took €4.1 billion in fuel taxes, the highest ever in the jaws of a cost-of-living crisis. The cost of filling a car is currently €19 more today than it was five years ago. That is not because of market issues

Healy-Raes, are now in support of it. Therefore, people are paying much higher prices for heat and transport in a cost-of-living crisis. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Healy-Raes and the Regional Independents did this in the context of energy companies raising their prices despite … That is not fairness. That is failure. I once again call on the Government to do what is needed. It should introduce cost-of-living measures, withdraw the carbon tax increases and adopt Sinn Féin’s proposals to address the fundamental flaws in our energy system so that

inflation is leaving people struggling. I have hundreds of people contacting my office who are struggling with bills and the cost of living. Something we could do to help them, which I have mentioned multiple times, is to decentralise our grid, bring in private wires and bring … that when you reduce energy costs that effect trickles through the entire economy, into transport and everything, and thereby brings down the cost of living. Our future energy systems cannot be tethered to the volatile gas markets and for that to be done we need to increase

hear our energy regulator or regulators, or whoever they are, saying anything and it falls on poor people. The cost of living has gone through the roof in the last six months and it is exploding as we are talking. There is no end to the increase … behalf of the people we were elected to represent here. I appeal again to see whether something can be done because the cost of living is tied to that and the cost of energy and heating. Without thinking of poor people, I come across people on a daily

Government could not find the money to give ordinary workers a break in their income tax. There was no money for a cost-of-living package, no money for an increase in the renter's tax credit, no money to maintain energy credits as electricity bills … money to cover the extra cost of living with a disability. The Government left people with disabilities €1,400 worse off, but it could and did find the money for generous tax breaks for developers, landlords and banks and now we know it found the money to deliver

consumption expenditure will be more than 3%. That does not reveal the type of scenario the Deputy created. We acknowledge there are cost-of-living challenges to people - there clearly are - but we have worked hard, through a range of supports and free schemes that I could list … from free books to hot school meals, that we have introduced to cushion people against the undoubted pressures of cost-of-living increases. In relation to semi-State CEOs, the Deputy knows full well that an independent body got together. There had been few increases in recent times

minor requirements are not met. Compliance and running costs are rising year on year, while family incomes continue to fall behind the cost of living. At the same time, they will be asked under Mercosur to compete with beef imports from countries such as Brazil where production standards … field. Cheaper, lower standard beef will enter the European market and inevitably compete directly with high-quality Irish beef. In today's cost-of-living crisis, consumers will push towards the cheaper option regardless of quality. That threatens farm incomes, rural communities and the reputation of Irish agriculture

reduce university fees? Is the Government committed to fully abolishing university fees? When will this happen? In the context of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, these fees are putting undue pressure on families and students

that they have no option but to go back to work to cover the costs of rent or mortgages or the cost of living. They then need childcare. Baby rooms in childcare services should be the solution but, since the introduction of core funding, the number of baby

talking about €400. However, it will support disabled people over the period from now, when they are struggling with the cost of living, until the time when the Minister is able to bring in that cost-of-disability payment. We really ask that the Minister look at this

reported by the Central Statistics Office of 3.2% in the year to the end of November 2025. Importantly, in relation to the cost of living, and the cases being referred to by Deputies, nobody in Ireland needs to go without food or heating for financial reasons. My Department

even more impossible to survive in dignity. These are the people who have the least power to insulate themselves from this cost-of-living crisis that we are all experiencing, yet this year they are facing the brunt of it. We can do better and we must

very disappointed as well. Our contributions are not alarmist; they are grounded in evidence and research. We know that the annual cost of living with disability is estimated at between €10,000 and €15,000. According to the ESRI, there is a weekly cost of between

light on action. I would have thought that the very least that a decent Government would do in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis is not make things worse for people. Yet, people with disabilities find themselves €1,400 worse off as a direct consequence

Minister for Social Protection the measures he is taking to address the growing gap between social welfare payment rates and the actual cost-of-living, particularly in relation to food, energy, housing, childcare and transport; if he accepts that once-off lump sum payments have failed to provide … ongoing protection for low-income households; the plans to introduce permanent increases linked to real cost-of-living data rather than annual budget cycles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2341/26

financial impact and the inflexibility that stringent policies around collecting children early or late from NCS creches have on parents already experiencing cost of living hikes; her plans to address this; to increase flexibility to support working parents; if she will indicate when the reduction in fees

rate and on the material deprivation rate, specifically in households at highest risk of poverty; if he has given consideration to a cost of living package targeting energy poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2822/26

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

with a disability following the outcome of Budget 2026, where there is now evidence that persons with a disability are facing a cost of living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2595/26

Social Protection if he is considering any emergency measures to help people with disabilities and their families to deal with increasing cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72863/25

Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will introduce any immediate financial measures to address the increased cost of living faced by people in receipt of disability allowance; the step he intends to take to reduce the gap between current disability allowance income supports

research, analysis, and impact assessments undertaken by his Department in developing proposals for a cost of disability payment; the estimated additional cost of living with a disability these considerations are based on; and if he will publish this information. [2524/26

significant price increases on many of the essentials they sell; if he proposes any direct action to reduce the impact of the cost-of-living on their customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1400/26

Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the fiscal rationale for removing once-off supports for disabled people, given the continuing cost-of-living pressures and the absence of the cost of disability payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75009/25

Protection if consideration has been given to targeted transitional or seasonal supports for people with disabilities following the withdrawal of once-off cost-of-living payments provided in Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1596/26

provisions apply in cases of financial hardship; his plans to review or increase these income limits in light of rising wages and cost of living pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1879/26