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written by Fine Gael that abandons workers and families to look after those at the top. There is no help with the cost-of-living crisis, no action to end the rip-off, no break on taxes, a blueprint for the continuation of the never-ending crises … mighty sweet package for you. However, if you are one of the hundreds of thousands of ordinary households impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, or one of the people facing the avalanche of rip-off bills and struggling to make ends meet

move: That Dáil Eireann: notes that: — Ireland is an outlier regarding the spiralling cost of living, and a Eurostat report this week showed we are the most expensive country for housing, health, energy and alcohol, overall prices are 36 per cent above the European Union average, with health … month, while nationwide it is €2,176, which means it costs approximately €30,000 a year to rent here; — the cost-of-living crisis is now mainstream, and families with two incomes are finding it hard to cope, with very little left over for emergencies; — in the past

reason we have a cost-of-living crisis in this country and across the world for working people is because of the greed of billionaires, multimillionaires, warmongers and the governments that back them. The personal fortunes of Donald Trump and his mate, Elon Musk … This year, while ordinary people across the world are crushed with a cost-of-living crisis and some people are being bombed to bits by Musk and Trump's allies in Palestine, Iran or Lebanon, Musk's fortune has gone past $1 trillion. It is massively increasing

middle who can often feel the squeeze, earning too much to qualify for supports but too little not to notice the rising cost of living. In our view, there are too many people who feel like this. Too many people are working hard, earning good money on paper … disposal and the administrative burden facing investors, and I intend to make further progress on removing barriers to investment. Helping with the cost of living in the here and now Fundamentally, the tax changes I am announcing today and the introduction of the investment account are based

legitimate demands and needs of working people, be they public sector or private sector, or those who are struggling with the cost-of-living and housing crises facing this country. When the Government refuses to listen to workers, they need to take to the picket lines to force … with the unions, which the unions are quite rightly demanding. Then we look at the forward projections for inflation and the cost of living. What did the Government say on pay? It said it had put aside €1.2 billion. It does not mean much to people when they

start by saying this to everybody who is impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, the cost of energy, childcare, the failure of wages to keep pace with the cost of living, inflation, the cost of groceries and by the inequity we see highlighted in this motion … those who are suffering as a result of the cost-of-living crisis as opposed to those who are profiteering out of it, they should get out on the streets this weekend and demand a change in this Government's priorities in advance of the budget. Those

Middle East and Gulf region; — is acutely aware of the impact on households and businesses of the recent increases in the cost of living, and is actively monitoring the current geopolitical situation and its impact on costs; — affirms that affordability is a priority for this Government … packages in the European Union (EU); affirms that: — the Government is deeply aware of the pressures placed on households and businesses by cost-of-living pressures; — the National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) was established in June 2025, to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability

sustainable approach. The Social Democrats believe there needs to be targeted measures and investment that will permanently bring down the cost of living. That has completely failed in the Government's approach. The Government has failed to take action to help the pensioners who are unable to heat … been properly addressed. The Government has failed to help renters who cannot make ends meet. Indeed, this Government has made the cost-of-living crisis even worse for renters in terms of the increased rents they are facing, putting an already very struggling and exposed group of people

condemn it? The Government knows Trump is just distracting from his domestic failures and from his population, which is suffering from a cost-of-living crisis while billionaires rake in more and more. Thousands are being killed and the lives of Irish peacekeepers are being put in danger … people of Ireland do not want to see that. The other aspect of this that needs to be called out is the cost-of-living crisis. This war is now putting us into a cost-of-living crisis on top of a cost-of-living crisis. The Tánaiste

original reduction of student fees was introduced in 2022. The reason the Government did that was to alleviate the cost of living, which was the right thing to do. To go on that premise and bring it to its logical conclusion, the cost of living today … have gone into arrears on energy bills alone. We see reports in the media that the Government is intent on scrapping the cost-of-living supports in the upcoming budget. Now, we have a Minister saying that student fees could reach €3,000, an increase

scale of the pressure that ordinary families are under. If Ministers did, we would see the Minister for Finance announce a cost-of-living package that would take immediate effect. Instead, what he presented is less than €250 for the majority of workers as a serious answer … cost-of-living pressure that workers and families are facing. The same test applies to pensioners. An increase of an extra €10 weekly was announced for the pension, but the Minister knows as well as I know that prices are rising higher than that and that inflation

Netanyahu's illegal war will finally end. The Finance Bill is only a drop in the ocean compared to the worsening cost-of-living crisis people are facing every single day. It is not only motorists who need help with rising costs. It is everyone who is forced … result of these data centres than are being added. We need to tackle this. A serious plan to tackle the cost-of-living crisis simultaneously involves tackling the climate crisis. It means trying to reduce energy usage instead of expanding it, having no more data centres, getting people

bands, providing instead untargeted Value-Added Tax (VAT) cuts for the hospitality and construction sector; — despite clear evidence of an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the Government withdrew energy credits and cut pre-election once-off payments, that in recent years had cloaked the inadequacy of existing social … have to wait over five months, until October, to find out what supports may be introduced to ease the increase in the cost of living; and — the State has yet to deploy the Apple windfall funds, and carries significant cash balances; recognises that: — Pay As You Earn (PAYE

course, people, Trump's friends, are speculating on all of this. People are getting rich out of it while all this cost-of-living misery has been going on since 2021. We are not Johnny-come-lately when it comes to addressing the very issues we are discussing … have been looking back at our motion, which was the first motion on the cost of living to come before this House at the beginning of the cost-of-living crisis. We moved it on 6 October 2021. It referred to the need for price controls on electricity

move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — a cost-of-living crisis exists in this State; — Budget 2026 was predicated on an inflation rate of 2 per cent, but it is now at 3.2 per cent; — prices have increased by 23.5 per cent in the last five years; — food … bills; — 185,000 households are in arrears on gas bills; — according to the Parliamentary Budget Office, the withdrawal of the once-off cost of living payments will increase general poverty to 12.6 per cent, child poverty to 15.6 per cent, older persons to 17.6 per cent, and decrease

past number of years under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments, we have been in what feels like a permanent cost-of-living crisis. People are being squeezed from every angle, be it grocery inflation, the cost of renting and buying a home, and childcare costs, something this … taking on debt just to keep the lights on. When we hear from the Government that budget 2026 will not be a cost-of-living budget, I am struck by the cynicism of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. For a couple of years in the lead

will be able to pay. That is an incredible situation. The frustration I have is that the Government is acting like the cost-of-living crisis is nearly over. The Government is the main driver of that crisis. We often hear it blame foreign elements for the crisis … State. The Government took more money than ever before in fuel taxes from people who are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. What does that say about the Government? Last year, the Government took €1 billion in carbon taxes. They are now the second biggest

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless T.D. on RTÉ where he indicated that in the absence of a cost of living package this year student fees will rise; and — the Minister's statement coupled with the refusal of Government to provide a cost … initial proposal and is only now being considered on foot of concerns raised by Sinn Féin, students' unions and others; and — the cost of living is impacting on every aspect of student life and this increase to fees will heap further financial pressure on young people and their

bringing this motion forward today. Everyone in this House knows and agrees that we are going through a severe and extended cost-of-living crisis. We all want to do everything in our power to protect people most at risk from energy poverty. Many people in the country … heating their homes, travelling to work and meeting other essential household expenses. Such is the scale of the energy crisis and the cost-of-living crisis more broadly that we now have more than half a million gas and electricity accounts in arrears. The pressures are very real

welcome the fact that the Deputies have given us an opportunity to discuss the cost of living crisis and the energy price hikes, but I will repeat what I said last night: shame on Deputies, some of whom have put forward this motion, for expressing support for Donald … prices that he has driven up by imposing price controls to make things affordable and making those who are profiteering from the cost-of-living misery pay for it, which is also completely absent from the Deputies' motion and the Government's thinking or amendment. We can protect

cost-of-living crisis is hitting my constituency of Galway West incredibly hard. In this Chamber I have raised countless examples of families in Galway under unbearable pressure from the cost of living. Working people cannot make their wages stretch to cover soaring rents, crippling energy bills … Government votes against every single proposal we put forward to ease pressures on renters. If the Government were serious about tackling the cost-of-living crisis, it would ban rent increases effective immediately. It would end no-fault evictions and ramp up housing supply by actually building social

Aontú Private Members' motion is designed to reduce the cost of living for families. It is designed to reduce the pressure on families across the country. The Minister of State is right to some extent. There is no doubt that the wars in Ukraine and in Iran … example, have increased the cost of living for families. However, this Government is the main architect of the rip-off Ireland that is hurting this country at the moment. The Government can list a range of different supports it is giving to families, such as child benefit

This is not solely about specific sectors, however, as we know. Just like the protests, this is about a broader issue of cost of living, a crisis that affects so many people the length and breadth of this State, a crisis that is still raging today … increases, a crisis the Government has failed to get under control and, indeed, a crisis it has added to. Right now the cost-of-living crisis is worse than ever. Many households and small businesses are on the brink. The price of green diesel, for example

Research Institute of Budget 2026 measures, households lost disposable income, with low-income households hit hardest; — despite clear evidence of an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the Government withdrew cost of living supports, including energy credits; — people with disabilities have been hard hit by the Government's callous … decision to withdraw cost of living support, with many people with disabilities left up to €1,400 worse off; — since energy credits were withdrawn, we have seen record numbers of household unable to pay their electricity bills, and many more people struggling to keep up; — the Government measures

business, the Government will ignore your demands, no matter how reasonable or justified they are. The fact that five years into a cost-of-living crisis the Government is still ignoring the demands of workers, carers and disabled people on the cost of living is truly outrageous. Prices … have gone up by almost a quarter in the past five years, but the Government decided that the cost-of-living crisis was over as soon as the general election was. That is why it used the budget to withdraw the cost-of-living measures that it used

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to address the cost of living crisis by introducing cost of living measures as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56910/26

Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the impact of inflation and cost of living on the real value of the carer’s allowance and disability allowance, particularly for recipients who experience a different cost of living due to the cost

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is considering reintroducing cost-of-living payments like those in previous Budgets as a matter of emergency to help people with cost of living increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31268/26

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

showing almost half of families cutting back on essentials, whether he accepts that successive Governments have failed to protect families from rising cost-of-living pressures; and if he will introduce a dedicated cost-of-living package in Budget 2026. [50754/25

update on developments from his and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage's refusal to provide a second-year cost-of-living package for students, despite the cost-of-living crisis continuing, resulting in student fees increasing by €1,000; and if he will make

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if reported plans (details supplied) to cease cost-of-living supports and payments in budget 2026 will be benchmarked against a reduction in the cost of living; and if he will make

give an update on the way in which public expenditure within budget 2027 will impact on workers and families struggling with the cost-of-living. [74674/26

including the ECB's asset purchase programmes and the subsequent tightening of interest rates, on Irish house prices, rents and the general cost-of-living; if so, the findings of such assessment; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75247/26

public service agreement; if he will ensure that this engagement is based on a credible approach to pay based on the cost-of-living challenges identified by the public services unions; and if he will guarantee a genuine negotiation process capable of rebuilding trust and confidence in public

excessive and disproportionate customs charges and administrative fees being imposed on everyday purchases and deliveries, which are adding to the cost-of-living burden on ordinary families; and whether any review or engagement with relevant bodies is planned to address this situation. [73894/26

Budget 2027; and the actions he is taking to specifically support recipients of this payment in the context of a very high cost of living. [73734/26

funding for 2027 (details supplied); and the specific emergency financial interventions his Department is implementing to support family farms through the cost-of-living crisis. [70424/26

that grade; and the total remuneration paid to each head of mission in 2025 including all allowances such as local post allowance, cost of living allowance, rent allowance, education allowance and representation allowance, in tabular form by mission; and if she will make a statement on the matter

drugs like Mounjaro for PCOS treatment in the drugs payment scheme, given the expense of the medication and the considerable cost of living issues. [70234/26

public transport to reconsider the decision and to reverse this increase in view of the impact this is having on the cost of living and the inevitable situation where more people will be forced to go back into cars on the road because of the cost of public

place for self-employed people who must reduce their hours; the adequacy of these supports in the context of the rising cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67568/26

increase the weekly rate of Carer's Allowance Benefit to €325 to recognise the additional cost of providing fulltime care in a cost of living crisis. [67385/26

Department is taking to ensure that the current State pension provides an adequate income for older persons in view of the cost of living pressures that pensioners are reporting, particularly for pensioners living in rural areas; and if he will make a full statement on the matter. [67626/26

asked the Minister for Social Protection the added measures his Department hope to introduce in Budget 2027 to help families with the cost of living. [67635/26

payment of statutory redundancy which is capped at €600 per week to take into account inflation, rising wages and the increased cost of living. [66912/26

carer's allowance and carer's benefit to €325 to recognise the additional cost of providing full-time care in a cost of living crisis. [65994/26

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health in the context of the current cost-of-living pressures cited by health sector unions (details supplied) in the lead-up to planned industrial action, the extent to which her Department and the HSE have assessed the potential

Transport the steps he will take to provide for an increase in CIÉ pensions to reflect the significant increases in the cost-of-living in recent years; whether such an increase is currently under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64410/26

Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport to reconsider the introduction of a 15% increase in adult public transport fares given the current cost-of-living crisis. [64459/26