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Deputy Kelly said. I know I get myself in trouble from time to time for saying these sorts of things but the cost-of-living challenge is still very real for people. We have to acknowledge that. We have to prudently budget and carefully work our way through … things and always protect our economy. We can quote all the economic statistics we want but the cost of living is still very challenging for many people I would loosely refer to as the squeezed middle. On supermarkets in particular, I welcome the measures taken by Minister

move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — households across the country are struggling to make ends meet as the cost of living soars; — more than 70 per cent of people in Ireland are either, "extremely" or "very" concerned about the cost of groceries, according to the recent … disclosure of information when carrying out market studies in line with powers already available in the United Kingdom and other jurisdictions. The cost of living is out of control and this is nowhere more evident than on supermarket shelves. The scale and the speed at which prices

children; 15% of people in Ireland are living in forced deprivation and for renters that number is doubled. As we see the cost-of-living supports disappear for these families the cost-of-living crisis is going nowhere. What about that lived experience? We can quote statistics

fact of the matter is that normal working families are being affected by a cost-of-living crisis. This Government has lost control of it. Week on week, families see their shopping bills rise and rise, and the Government is burying its head in the sand, ignoring people … hardships and refusing to bring forward a cost-of-living package. Even the conscious shopper using the so-called low-cost supermarkets and purchasing own brand is finding that these brands are rising faster than the traditional brands. I know families where parents are going without food

Social Democrats. They have given us an opportunity to have this discussion. If you talk to anybody in the real world, the cost of living is one of the biggest issues impacting workers and families. People are paying huge amounts of money on mortgages, rents, childcare and insurance … Government. It is unbelievable to people that while prices are going up, the Government is setting its face against any cost-of-living package in the upcoming budget. It seems to be saying that it knows prices are going up but people are on their own and there

past three years. They are on the record. The early price rises of groceries on the shelves at the start of this cost-of-living crisis were quite easily explained by post-Covid demand followed by war in Europe. We all understood and continue to understand that. However … profits the companies it was supposed to be examining were making. Riddle me that. This is the "Father Ted" approach to the cost-of-living crisis in Ireland. It is the equivalent of "Can anything be said for another mass? Let's do another report

Irish people and their endurance be used as an excuse for Government inaction. We are over three years into the cost-of-living crisis and it has touched every home, every dinner table and every shopping list. I speak regularly to parents who are cutting corners and going … that if you work hard, you should be able to live in security. Yet this Government has chosen not to deliver a cost-of-living package, with no meaningful reliefs and no comprehensive plan. As regards the response from the Taoiseach yesterday to a question from my colleague

very simple question that has been asked since the Minister, Deputy James Lawless, went on radio and stated that without a cost-of-living package, college fees would be hiked up by €1,000. That was nine days ago. While the Taoiseach has been away in Japan … skips meals so their children can have enough to eat. It just beggars belief that the Government is refusing to include a cost-of-living package in the budget. A €1,000 hike in college fees is a lot of money for families. We must remember that

appointments. Some 40% of parents are skipping meals so their children would have enough. According to today’s Barnardos report into the cost-of-living crisis, parents across the country are facing impossible decisions. This is starkly highlighted in the quotes from the survey. One parent said … food banks, and stop after school activities." Listening to the rhetoric from Government figures in recent weeks, you would think that the cost-of-living crisis had ended, but nothing could be further from the truth. Inflation may be slowing but prices continue to rise. Eurostat data show

Minister must be completely detached from the reality of the cost-of-living crisis if he thinks it is okay to heap €1,000 on students and families this September. The Barnardos cost-of-living report for 2025 found: One in five families cut back on or went

Students need that certainty now and it is sorely lacking from this Government. Families are already at their wits' end with the cost-of-living crisis that is affecting their pockets. They are now potentially being asked to find an extra €1,000 come September. This will impact … certainly not here or willing to go on the Dáil record. This is very much a creation of their one-off cost-of-living measures. I would like to say, "We see you, Fine Gael", but I clearly cannot

past two years. This is also a matter for the Tánaiste, who waved this in our faces as a temporary cost-of-living measure. His party comes out then and criticises its brother party in government on the decision that is being made. The decision made … nine days since the announcement was made. In 2020, the Minister's party leader said he was conscious of the additional cost of living away from home in a city or town and that that cost had been quite significant in the preceding years. That was a comment

county, Cork, there was an increase of €836 between 2023 and 2024. Year-on-year, students face higher costs of living and, on top of those, potentially even higher fees. This is unsustainable and unacceptable. We have also seen rises in grocery prices. This is an issue that … lifetime of the Government and their elimination. These costs are not temporary; they are ongoing. They represent consistent rises in the cost of living. The Minister can bring down the costs for students by reducing student fees year after year. I used to work for a students' union

also among the highest in Europe. This Government took in €4 billion last year in fuel tax, which is driving up the cost of living. Now it seeks to drive up the cost of living more on these wonderful students. What does the Minister of State

fair. Many students and their families struggle to afford the student contribution charge even with grants and other forms of support. The cost of living makes it nearly impossible. This is in the programme for Government. Why did the Government put it in there if it is going … mantra always. The last of my children thankfully finished college a year ago. It is a tough situation and, with the cost of living and increasing prices, it is worse. During the last Government, the Minister, Deputy O’Donovan, set out this criteria. I have some sympathy

last three budgets reduced the cost of third level student fees by €1,000 per annum as part of the wider cost-of-living packages introduced by the Government. I am pressing the Minister to continue these reductions in fees for students on an ongoing basis as they … their families are hard-pressed to afford them. The cost-of-living crisis is still very much with us. Some might say that €1,000 is not a very large sum of money in the modern world, but I can vouch for the fact that it is very

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

aware that a temporary once-off reduction of €1,000 was introduced in the last three budgets. That was part of a cost-of-living package that was put together to support students and other sectors of society. I am very keen to continue to support measures like … that but it has been confirmed in recent weeks that there will not be a cost-of-living ancillary package across Government this year so we will need to do something different in budget 2026. We need to look at a different policy approach and a different funding

thank the Deputy. I will outline what we are doing to support people with the cost of living, which we know continues to be a significant issue and problem for many, even when the price growth we have had to deal with for many years is slowing. What … allowance has been expanded so that thousands more people, particularly older people, are able to qualify for the scheme. We know the cost of living continues to be an issue for many. These are the actions the Government has taken. We need to ensure that the actions

October. In between July and October, various other measures I have outlined to the House will be implemented to help with the cost of living. Second, and generally, this budget will have to move to a more normal budget in terms of scale and measures. Third, what that … other needs there. However, these measures were permanent, different in scale and were ones we could build upon. I know the cost of living is an issue for so many at the moment, but we are in a place where the really big increase in prices

struggling and has had challenges. It has faced these challenges remarkably well considering what we have been through - Brexit, Covid and the cost of living. However, these challenges persist. The barometer indicates that things so far in 2025 have been quite flat. The sector, which is eternally optimistic … tourism. We know there are challenges around VAT and I believe we are going to address them. There are challenges around the cost of living and hopefully we will be able to support the businesses in their endeavours. It is not just about hotel beds or hospitality

encouraging a modal shift to public transport is reducing fares. These were cut by 20% in 2022 as a temporary cost-of-living measure and then kept, just like student fees. In light of the Government saying we will not have another cost-of-living package

because it thinks the cost-of-living crisis is over. We need a cost-of-living package and fees need to be reduced, not increased

nowhere near covering increased insurance, energy and electricity costs. As with the €1,000 third level fee increase, if last year's cost-of-living package is not repeated, schools will be down funding next year. Will the Minister assure parents that schools will be adequately funded … will not have to bear the financial burden of so-called free education? Will there be a cost-of-living package for schools

therefore to pay more local property tax. As I have said on numerous occasions, we are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, a crisis that is really biting down hard on so many individuals. Instead of doing what is right, the Government is pushing ahead … fairness to him, he has not disputed that these are the facts of the matter. We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and should not be passing legislation that will increase a tax on individuals. Regardless of whether