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living in real deprivation. How is it that those families are living through an appalling paradox of plenty in a housing and cost-of-living crisis and a Government that has a target for children in poverty? No Government should ever have a target for children in poverty … supporting families' ability to work through the provision of affordable and available childcare, by supporting families' ability to deal with the cost of living by extending free GP care, by expanding free public transport travel and by a permanent cut to third level fees. Instead, what

bubble here in Leinster House. Is it that they do not know or do not care that there is a cost-of-living crisis? Families are struggling to make ends meet. Grocery prices are through the roof. We have some of the highest energy prices in Europe … there is not a single cost-of-living support in this budget. Families are falling behind with rent, mortgage repayments and energy bills. Parents are constantly choosing between heating the home, if they have one, and feeding their children. Budgets are about choices. We should always remember that

disabled person have? What hope can a family paying €3,000 euro on average more a year for their groceries since the cost-of-living crisis began have? It is highly ironic that we all scan our own groceries now because Tesco and the other big chains force … However, they still charge us the same amount for those groceries. Real incomes have decreased as inflation and the cost of living have risen. Electricity, which every person uses and which should be considered an essential, is being profiteered off. The price of electricity has risen

reduction, introduced in May 2022, was one of the Government's responses to the current energy crisis and its impact on the cost of living. While inflation has eased and global energy prices have dropped, I believe it is appropriate to provide an extension to this measure … many people, the cost of living remains relatively high, so the Government is proposing this extension from 1 November this year until the end of 2030. The cumulative cost of the measure since its introduction is estimated to be €746 million. As Deputies will recall, the background

cost of the drugs payment scheme. The budget is coming up next week and we very much believe that in a cost-of-living crisis, the State can play a key role for those families who are relying on the drugs payment scheme and reduce their prescription costs … costs €78 million, it would have a very real and tangible impact on those families who are suffering from the cost of living. Those with a disability and people who are not able to work full-time hours because of chronic conditions are most reliant on medication

carer's allowance, which is a modest payment on which most people would struggle to sustain themselves amid today's cost-of-living pressures. That is why today the Social Democrats are bringing a motion before the Dáil calling for the means test for the carer's allowance … allowance might sound generous but is fundamentally flawed. It is piecemeal and bureaucratic, and always lagging behind inflation and the actual cost of living. It penalises dual-income families and forces many carers into endless paperwork. It feels like a draining and grinding process for which they often

Ireland's consumers paying the highest energy prices in the European Union. With every report we see, we talk about the cost of living. One of the key aspects of the cost of living is the cost of energy, not just for the householder or the small business

agus níl aon rud déanta ag an Rialtas chun é seo a réiteach. The Government has completely failed to address the cost-of-living crisis. In fact, it seems to be in absolute denial that families and workers are going through a cost-of-living crisis with regard

lack of reliable public transport. These increases in car insurance premiums are adding to the burden of people struggling in a cost-of-living crisis. Sinn Féin's Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2021 will tackle what is in effect price-gouging by the insurance companies. The Bill will … Government allowed this Bill to pass through its Stages and come into law to help families struggling to pay bills in this cost-of-living crisis

said: “I want people at home to know that we hear them on the cost of energy and know about the cost of living.” He said that the Government would take action. The very next day, SSE Airtricity became the latest to announce massive hikes in its electricity … time that they are getting hit by double-digit increases in their energy bills. People feel like they are drowning in the cost of living crisis. We have heard Minister after Minister this week and last tell us what they have done about this measure and that measure

shows one in five children, over 225,000, live in families below the poverty line when housing costs are accounted for; — the cost-of-living crisis is deepening with annualised food price inflation in August up by 5 per cent; — Ireland already has some of the most expensive … radical action, we are likely to see the impact of Government failure and inaction on future generations. Budget 2026 must be a cost-of-living budget. We cannot return to the previous "Late Late Show" style of one-for-everyone-in-the-audience budgets. The Labour Party

multi-purchase deals. They cannot put solar panels on their homes. They are exposed to the sharp end of the cost-of-living crisis. The Minister for Social Protection and other Ministers come in here and trot out figures to show that inflation is down and that … case. The rate of inflation may have eased, but prices have remained very high and the reality is that the cost-of-living crisis is hitting lower-income households the hardest. We did not come here today just to give out. We came with proposals, which the Government

year, because this scheme has been completely vandalised by the Government. Households, especially those with children, are under huge pressure from the cost-of-living crisis. Food price inflation was up again by 5% in the month of August. In recent years, an additional €3,000 per year … year. Energia is up by 12.1% or €200 per year. Flogas electricity is up 7%, an extra €126 a year. The cost-of-living crisis will push more and more families into poverty. Significant energy credits, totalling at least €500, must be introduced in the coming budget. There

yesterday when I responded to the issues Deputy McDonald raised. I assure her the Government takes extremely seriously the issues concerning the cost of living and the pressures they put on families. The Deputy recounted a series of increases that will take place. The Government is well aware … that will be announced in 13 days by the Ministers, Deputies Donohoe and Chambers, I assure Deputy McDonald that concern for the cost of living and hard-pressed families will be at the centre. The Deputy mentioned a number of items she highlighted yesterday. Similarly, I want

every TD who is not in Sinn Féin, is aware of the pressures that people are under when it comes to the cost of living. The Deputy does not have a monopoly in terms of understanding that. We are fully aware of it. We have introduced measures … past that the Deputy has acknowledged have ameliorated the cost-of-living pressures on people. She is acknowledging that by giving us credit for the energy credits that were introduced in the past. The fact that we have done this in the past is indicative that it will

capacity to maintain their status as people who are barely getting by in the face of exorbitant rents. There is a cost-of-living crisis. Workers need a hand up. They need a break and a cost-of-living package. They need to make provision for their retirement

predecessor this pension scheme does not prioritise workers’ financial well-being either today or in retirement. In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis workers will see their take-home pay go down and while the Government will allow them to opt out, it is bizarrely delaying … their right to do so by six months. At the same time workers continue to face a cost-of-living crisis that has not abated. There are spiralling rents, increased college fees and Government supports like the energy credit have been withdrawn. Now the Government is going

know how many debates there have been since the resumption about the fact people out there are absolutely suffering in a cost-of-living crisis, especially those who are at the middle, and even more so those at the lowest end, when it comes to earnings … those who most need it. That is combined with the added pressures they are under at this time in relation to the cost-of-living crisis. This is a time when the Government has moved itself back from at least some of the mitigations that have been offered

when it comes to addressing the difficult circumstances that members of the public find themselves in as a result of cost-of-living pressures? It is important to point out that this Government has done a huge amount in respect of those cost-of-living pressures. By looking

amongst the highest in Europe leading to an extra €500 on household bills and is a leading factor in Ireland's cost-of-living crisis; — the number of households in arrears are at their highest level since records began with 300,000 households in arrears on their electricity … operation in order to ensure natural resources are directed toward the generation of national wealth rather than private gain. Ireland’s cost-of-living crisis is causing workers and families the length and breadth of the country to be hammered by soaring prices. If it is not rents

their fair share instead of being subsidised by ordinary householders. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have said they will not introduce a cost-of-living package regarding energy credits during a cost-of-living crisis when people are finding it extremely difficult to get by on a weekly

this year, but that is not the same as saying we do not intend to take action to help families with the cost of living. However, we have got to take measures that are sustainable and permanent. We are moving away from one-off measures to permanent, sustainable … very shortly. I want people at home to know that we hear them on the cost of energy and know about the cost of living. It is usually right that you wait for the budget before you criticise

country, creating new inequalities and deepening the plight of families fighting every day to keep afloat. I am talking about the cost-of-living crisis. Ireland is a rich country, but for far too many people it feels poor. Despite high GDP, child poverty rates now match those … this budget. It is a political choice it will make. The media say the Government is not going to do a cost-of-living emergency package. The Taoiseach's task, however, is to create a sustainable future, so we need to see the reinstatement of targeted energy credits

hike in college fees, thanks to the Government. Also thanks to the Government, tens of thousands of families will be left without cost-of-living supports and will wonder how on earth they will make it through the winter. Ní féidir leis an Rialtas teaghlaigh atá ag streachailt … Government simply cannot abandon workers and families like this. I put it to the Taoiseach that the Government must include a cost-of-living package in October's budget

This week, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have rightly emphasised the Government's strong commitment to easing the cost-of-living pressures on families, including the recent move to strengthen the powers of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to ensure fairness in grocery pricing. Given the extraordinary … Ukraine and the rising global energy costs, will the Tánaiste outline how the Government plans to build on the cost-of-living supports already delivered, particularly with regard to the cost of groceries and essential utilities, to give families greater security and reassurance in the months ahead