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pose risks in terms of how we can pay for this in the future. I appreciate that, at a time when the cost of living is still a challenge for so many and I hear, as every other TD in this House does, the challenges people have … getting by, this is a difficult argument for people to accept at a time during which they are worried about the rising cost of living in front of them. However, if we are going to have the ability to continue to help budget by budget and to continue

There are other initiatives. I cannot speak to previous budgets because I was not a Minister or part of those Governments, but cost-of-living supports were provided at difficult times through Ukraine, Covid and the cost-of-living crisis, and that made sense at the time

brath ar leasa shóisialaigh. The Government is very conscious of the enormous pressure on people on the ground in respect of the cost-of-living increases that have occurred over the last number of years, particularly the elevated food and energy prices relative to previous times. That … public expenditure. Sinn Féin wants to go another €4 billion or €5 billion, which would add 2% to inflation and increase the cost of living for people. We are about the eighth highest in terms of electricity prices across the EU 27, adjusted for purchasing power parity

their income tax, no increase in the renters' credit, no cut in childcare fees, no increase in child benefit and no cost-of-living package, but the Government could find the money for sweetheart tax breaks for developers, big landlords and the banks, while all its big election … promises disappeared like snow off a ditch. The budget was written as though the cost-of-living crisis was a thing of the past, but at the very time it was announced, households heard that they face the biggest price squeeze in 18 months. It is not just

mentioned a bunch of things that have already been done. He is standing over the withdrawal of the cost-of-living supports, the impact of which will be deeper poverty. The budget was spoken about as a budget for child poverty. It absolutely was a budget for child … nationally will have risen from 11.7% in 2024 to a forecast level of 13.2% in 2026 due to the withdrawal of the cost-of-living package. Income poverty rates will have risen most for the elderly, from 13.3% in 2024 to a forecast level of 19%. Child poverty

that when those with disabilities go back to their bank accounts, there is no money in them to meet the rising cost of living. The disability allowance, modest as it is, will have less purchasing power now than it did five years ago, and all of this … industry, has never been worse in the history of the State. Now is the time the State should step in with a cost-of-living package. However, it is a matter of make do and mend for disabled people and an endless tap of cash turned

independence is being eroded more and more. This is not because of our disability. This is because we need to address the cost of living and the cost of living with a disability [...] I am receiving a disability payment and the household benefit package. The money received from

rising and the response of the Minister's Government is a slap in the face to those who already face the highest cost of living in the State. The Government's own research has shown that the additional cost of disability is between … Fine Gael, with the support and leadership of Fianna Fáil it would seem, looks the other way. The Government cut the cost-of-living supports that people depended on and refused to introduce a permanent cost-of-disability payment, a measure that has been repeatedly called

landmark moment for the advancement of disability rights in Ireland." Last week, with the budget, the Government cut vital cost-of-living supports for people with disabilities. This amounts to a €1,400 drop in income for people with disabilities across the State. While the Government announced … Office that poverty will rise for people with disabilities in the coming years as a consequence of this budget. We have a cost-of-living crisis that is affecting everyone in the same way, but for people with disabilities and their families it is far worse. They

miserable €10 weekly increase in the disability allowance is an insult. It does not even keep up with inflation. There is a cost-of-living crisis that we are all aware of but what is not being addressed enough is the harsh reality of the cost-of-living

accepted that persons with disabilities and their families face a much higher cost of living than people generally. A Government-commissioned report prepared by Indecon in 2021 confirmed this. It reported the additional cost at between €9,500 and €12,000 per annum. Research by the Vincentian Partnership … fully agree with the motion put forward by Sinn Féin this evening, which calls for the immediate introduction of a weekly cost-of-living payment and a lump-sum payment before Christmas in recognition of the additional costs. I want to return to the fundamental issue

particularly support the call on the Government to develop and introduce a cost-of-disability payment. We all know that the cost of living with a disability is significantly higher than the cost of living for a non-disabled person, but emotional and psychological costs also have

work on this case. It should not even be a case. People with disabilities should not have to face the higher cost of living but they do. They face a way higher cost of living than most of us. The should not fear losing supports for medical needs

PAYE workers, reneged on its commitment to abolish the means test for carers and reneged on its commitment for a weekly cost-of-living disability payment. The Government has cut all cost-of-living supports in the budget. There is no second tier of child benefit to tackle

people who get up early in the morning, put in hard shifts every day and who, under incredible pressure from the cost of living, keep the show on the road. I am talking about teachers, SNAs, young electricians and carpenters, retail workers and factory workers. In the budget … this country going. Its raft of broken election promises means that working people are left behind. There is no help with the cost of living. There is the largest tax cuts package in the history of the State, but no break on income tax for ordinary people

increase, parents seeing no reduction in childcare costs - when they can get a childcare place - families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and people unable to find a home of their own and, of course, nothing for disabled people or carers. This was derisory for those people … care and yet more than two thirds of caring families are struggling to cover the cost of food and energy in a cost-of-living crisis. The Taoiseach has failed disabled people and carers in this budget and that is really evident. It is a very significant broken

have also ensured that future fiscal policy is on a sustainable basis. While one-off welfare payments were essential in countering elevated cost-of-living pressures, we have undertaken to transition back to more permanent sustainable social protection measures. We remain acutely aware of price level increases … recent years, and the impact inflation has had on businesses and households throughout the country. We have now targeted cost-of-living supports at those most in need of them, supports that are sustainable, while we move to address the underlying causes within our domestic control that

This budget comes at a time when ordinary households are reeling from a cost-of-living crisis that is out of control. Workers and families are hit by rip-off prices in every direction. It is getting harder and harder to make ends meet and to keep … premiums. The list is as long as your arm. You name it, it is going up. This budget should have been a cost-of-living budget, a budget to end the rip-off and make life affordable. It should have been a budget to address, with real purpose

What do those people see? They see a €500 increase in college fees, their rent only going one way - up - and the cost of living going in the same direction. Is it any wonder that so many young people do not see a future for themselves in Ireland … spent those billions on climate action. This Government repeatedly tells us that inflation has come down and that is why the cost-of-living supports have been withdrawn. Whatever you say. What the Government never says is that inflation may have come down but prices have not. Energy

party and Government have no credibility after this. None at all, and why? All of the challenges that exist, like the cost-of-living, health and housing crises, are as bad now as they were yesterday. They are worse than last year and this budget has done nothing … developers and the big fast food chains. The ordinary workers and ordinary people are left absolutely bereft by the cost-of-living crisis and the fact that this Government, despite all the promises of last year, has let them down

Fianna Fáil election manifesto, entitled, "Moving Forward. Together.". It contains promise after promise to the electorate. There are promises about addressing the cost-of-living crisis, a promise to reduce energy prices, a promise of progressive tax changes to put money back in workers' pockets. The Government promised … high-income households will face average income losses from this budget. Where is the help for workers who struggle with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis in this budget? They got nothing or rather they got another increase in fuel costs, with the latest increase in the carbon

argument for a carbon tax at a time when over 300,000 people are in energy arrears and we have a cost-of-living crisis. What are the people in Kiltimagh, Ballinrobe, Newport or Foxford and all of these places across County Mayo to do? What public transport … this is certainly not a budget for ordinary families trying to build, trying to get by and trying to survive in this cost-of-living crisis. I also note the mentions of transport in the budget - mentions of the DART and the Dublin metro, all very Dublin centric

proud, we also clearly understand that not everyone feels the benefits of this in their daily lives. For many, concerns about their cost of living and access to a home remain paramount. To make the case for the progress we have made is also to acknowledge that … people safe. Reliance and Resilience Our corporation tax revenues have allowed us to respond to challenges such as the pandemic and the cost-of-living challenge. However, we all know the degree of our volatility in these receipts. We know over-reliance is a risk. In addition, international

reckless to drive up the cost of living at a time when so many people are just hanging on. It is reckless to drive more people into energy poverty but that is exactly what this budget will do. We called on the Government to increase pensions and core … putting serious pressure on those families. We asked the Government to deliver a €20 increase for disability payments to recognise the additional cost of living with a disability. In the budget today, the Government has short-changed pensioners and those on social welfare. The rate increase

forward in this Dáil was to increase the number of super junior Ministers and the wages of Ministers of State. Clearly the cost-of-living crisis was biting on the poor Ministers of State. This time last year, we were preparing for a general election … deliver on that. The Fianna Fáil manifesto told us that it would help families cope with high prices. Instead, there is no cost-of-living package and, in fact, it is increasing their costs. Some 300,000 households are already in debt over electricity prices and the removal