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terms of the move from a payment of €600 to €400. It is important that the Minister bear in mind the cost-of-living crisis that is unfolding. The Minister will reply that the payment was never a direct monetary compensation. That is correct but it is undoubtedly … support families across the country yesterday and it has to be borne in mind that we may well see a continued cost-of-living spike later this year when the Minister is considering reducing that payment. I ask him to bear that point in mind. We also have

public services, including Tusla, namely, the privatisation and outsourcing of care, the lack of workforce planning and the ongoing housing and cost-of-living crisis, all of which we should be talking about as part of this debate. The SEAs highlight the increasing and ongoing privatisation … ongoing failure of the Government to get to grips with the housing emergency in this country as well as the rising cost of living. Young people are now being left with little choice but to emigrate elsewhere for a better standard of living and to save

illegal war on Iran enters its third week, with no end in sight. The Minister stated earlier that the Government is considering cost-of-living measures and a package of supports for struggling households. There have been many kites flown and many mixed messages from Government. The Minister … State, Deputy Niall Collins, suggested that the Government should consider scrapping the €680 million VAT cut on hospitality to pay for cost-of-living supports. Is that Fianna Fáil policy? If not, when are we going to see clarity from the Government for struggling households? People just want

those homes. They have to feed their children. They have to access childcare and education. On every one of those indicators, the cost of living is getting increasingly unbearable. We hear in our constituency clinics, as I am sure the impressive number of the Government's own backbenchers … behind the Tánaiste today also hear in their constituency clinics, that the scale of the cost-of-living crisis is having an impact on people that we are finding impossible to cope with because solutions are simply not being offered by the Government to address them. What

There has been a cost-of-living crisis in this country for a number of years. That crisis was, to some extent, addressed by way of energy credits and once-off social welfare payments in the 2025 budget. Of course, that … election was bought, and was done and dusted, and the Government did not do anything further except sit on its hands. The cost-of-living crisis for families is devastating as a result. On top of that, we now have the illegal Israeli-US war on Iran. This

thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this important motion on the cost-of-living crisis. As well as the issue of the action the Government needs to take to address the spiralling cost of living, and particularly the cost of energy that has hit hard, I would just

service is not dependable. Then the Government says it is going to help with its taxes. We are not in a cost-of-living crisis because it is a cost-of-living emergency now. People cannot pay their bills. What is the Government saying? The Minister and others

Minister also to increase or decrease the supports depending on the situation in terms of wholesale fuel costs or the cost-of-living crisis that people are suffering from. This is a responsible course of action from this party. The Minister talked about back-of-envelope stuff … legislation. What the Minister should be doing, and what a responsible Government, one that cares about people and that understands the cost-of-living pressures people are under, would be doing is standing here and saying "Folks, tonight we are taking action, cutting petrol and diesel costs

fact is that for three weeks now we have been looking at a cost-of-fuel crisis on top of a cost-of-living crisis and we really need to see action taken. I would have thought that what is going on at the minute might bring sufficient … Minister of State afterwards. They are worried that they may not be able to provide the service required because of the cost-of-living crisis

coming days. What an understatement. Another Government TD said on television last night that it is premature to talk a the cost-of-living crisis. What planet are they on? There is a cost-of-living crisis right here, right now facing so many families. The Government does

agree around the cost of living and particularly the cost of energy to households at the moment. That has obviously escalated further this week. We have one of the highest gas and electricity prices in the European Union. Added to this is the fact that householders are paying … need and use more energy because they are at home more. In the budget prior to the general election, they got cost-of-living measures, additional fuel allowance, living alone allowance and energy credits. When there is no election, they get zero. They got nothing this year

there were not a problem in this regard already. It was as if there were not already a cost-of-living crisis and people under pressure. He talked about not having a knee-jerk response to a situation that is five or six days old. We have some … issues for people, whether households or small businesses. I am entirely underwhelmed by the response of the Government to the energy and cost-of-living crises anyway but when we see the cost of home heating oil shooting up in recent days in response to what is happening

reality is that these rent increases will disproportionately impact Dublin City Council social housing tenants who are already struggling with the cost of living. While if it is true that there is a funding gap between the cost of Dublin City Council running its social housing programme … many people on low incomes or on a basic welfare payment is that their quality of life decreases. Their struggles with this cost-of-living crisis are greater, and all of this impacts on their mental health and well-being. I have been inundated with calls into

budget, we brought in specific measures to target those most in need and most under pressure as a result of the cost of living and the elevated level of the cost of living over the past four years, which is easing. Nonetheless prices are still high for people

higher than what the Government had forecast. It claimed prices were stabilising and that was the basis for the Government pulling the cost-of-living supports in the budget. The ESRI said that the budget resulted in income losses for the average Irish household. Will the Tánaiste accept … this badly wrong? Will he bring forward a cost-of-living package that so many families desperately require giving the prices that are being charged to them in different guises, whether shopping, insurance or many other examples

latest increases in food prices expose the Government's bogus justification for ripping away the cost-of-living supports. The ESRI was very clear: lower-income households felt worse off as a result of the budget. We can argue over and back all the time but the lived … accept the reality of all of these figures and recognise that the State has to intervene and support those individuals in a cost-of-living package that the Government wrongly decided to withdraw at the wrong time

extra €250 a month. You would think the Government has no idea that we are in the middle of a dire cost-of-living emergency. People cannot afford to pay their rent, heat their homes, put food on the table or buy things for their kids. They already … that campaign are to freeze and cap rents and to build public housing. The Government will only take action on the cost-of-living crisis if it is forced, so we need people power to force it. It seems to me that section

happening? I am on the record of the Dáil as saying that I believe the cost of living in this country is going to have an adverse reaction. Today, for the people of Abbeyfeale who have worked in KOSTAL Ireland GmbH, there is the loss of 140 jobs … brings in inferior foods into this country. That is not only a problem for Ireland; it is a problem for Europe. The cost of living here is off the wall if a person wants to build a house here. We had the pyrite scandal, redress for which

thank the Deputies for their important contributions to this debate. I acknowledge that they are genuine in bringing concerns about the cost of living to the floor of the House. These are really important issues - emotive but with very real impacts on our people. I am committed … effects of any recommendation. The Government carefully considers the recommendations of the commission, and of course closely monitors labour market developments and cost-of-living concerns. There has to be a balance between a fair and sustainable rate for low paid workers and one that will not have

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