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antiquated infrastructure and rising poverty. That is the Government’s legacy and this budget doubles down on this failure. Anyone examining this budget would think the cost-of-living crisis was being felt most acutely by developers and the owners of fast food chains. They are the ones … once used for extras for the children, now goes straight into the weekly food shop." This budget utterly fails to address the astonishing fact that nearly 200,000 children are living in poverty. It is important that we never forget the stress and hardship that poverty can cause

only the tip of the iceberg and what the official figures are telling us. One in five children is living below the poverty line once housing costs are counted and 250,000 children in this State are in enforced deprivation. This is a State that has recorded unprecedented … school spaces, school building delays, unaffordable childcare and school transport chaos. Families are turning to food banks while parents skip meals so children can eat. The ESRI has shown today that child poverty is at crash-era levels. Barnardos has shown that almost half of families are cutting

Energy costs are driving people into energy poverty. What does it look like? It is less for food, clothes and bills. It is the choice between eating or heating. For working families, older people and people with disabilities, it is about hesitating to turn on the heating … colder than it was last year. The Government can choose to help hundreds of thousands of people who are in energy poverty and many more who are going to be facing into energy poverty in 2026. It can choose to change its mind and bring back energy supports

rates in Ireland; — one in five disabled people live in consistent poverty, nearly four times the national average, while nearly 40 per cent live in enforced deprivation; — in the context of escalating costs in energy, food and housing, disabled people are particularly vulnerable to cost pressures, especially … with their disabilities and seasonal costs, including energy, housing, and food costs; — an immediate emergency winter payment would serve as a vital support, which would protect against the increased risk to disabled people of falling into poverty and deprivation; and — an emergency €400 winter payment is affordable

dismissed. It does not get factored into those surveys. Free schoolbooks were not. To me, preventing poverty is, first of all, about guaranteeing children access to education, food and good, regular hot meals, and also ensuring that their families have supportive incomes, which we do through the social

grocery stores, by food outlets, by gas and electricity companies, and by our own State company, the ESB. Profit gouging is happening in so many areas. Who is paying for it? It is ordinary households. This is why we have seen child poverty rates double when we have … This is a massive increase for families who are facing back-to-school costs, massive food inflation and skyrocketing rents. Where does it end? One in five children are at risk of poverty after their families pay the housing costs, be it rent or a mortgage. This will

Dublin North-West and across this country there are 230,000 children growing up in poverty in families that cannot afford to heat their homes, pay for social activities or keep food on the table or a roof over their heads. One of the basic needs

projects that will benefit our long-term economic security. Instead, in large part, they were used to cut taxes for developers and fast-food chains. The council's verdict was devastating. On this, it said: "The Government is budgeting like there is no tomorrow." The Nevin Economic Research … during the election, but that has not happened. It could have lifted 40,000 children out of poverty, but it did not. Instead it chose developers, large landlords and fast-food giants and chose recklessly to narrow our tax base. Once again, it shows that the priorities

depth of poverty and social exclusion growing across communities and the State. The measures in this Bill fall far short of what is needed. After years of record surpluses and headline promises, families are still being left behind and are struggling with food, energy, housing and transport costs … tackle child poverty and no urgency in confronting the cost-of-living emergency. Energy prices are rising again; by more than 12% this winter. More than 300,000 households are in electricity arrears and almost 175,000 are in arrears in respect of gas. Food costs are still

raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Disabled people have been failed by this Government. In its record €9.4 billion budget, developers and fast food chains were prioritised. They have been handed tax breaks that will cost the State nearly €5 billion over the next four years. To help … scrutiny because we know that huge numbers of disabled people are living in poverty. Every day, people are struggling not just with the soaring costs we all face in energy, food and housing, but with the enormous additional cost of having a disability. This is why a weekly

food giants, yet it turns around to ordinary people and says, "We have to wait. We're not quite sure if we can give you the money yet." The Government has billions sitting in a surplus while, as I said, one in four children is living in poverty … completely ignoring a cost-of-living crisis and a level of poverty that is completely unacceptable. As I said, it is Scrooge for ordinary people and Santa Claus for the wealthy investors and the big fast-food giants. It is shameful that the Government is not providing

cost-of-living crisis has been most acutely felt by developers and fast food chains. Millions of euro are going to the likes of McDonald's instead of lifting thousands of children out of poverty. There is €568 million in tax cuts for developers, when less than half

five children, or more than 225,000, lives in a family 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%, and for the first time in the history … ESRI, the Children's Rights Alliance or any of the other bodies and agencies that are ringing the alarm bells on child poverty? The number of children in consistent poverty rose by 78% in the last year. This amounts to over 100,000 children trapped in poverty, with

costs for any of these things. We have one in five children living in poverty. The reality is that we have the Society of St. Vincent de Paul delivering food and we have food banks. We have families who go to different places to pick up food every

getting squeezed. We need transparency. The Social Democrats are calling for this. We need accountability. Food banks are experiencing a massive increase in demand and more children are living in poverty and homelessness than ever before. It is shameful. What we see around our city is shameful

living supports in the budget. There is no second tier of child benefit to tackle child poverty or no maximum of €200 per month for child care costs. Very profitable fast-food giants are benefiting at the expense of poor children, carers, persons with disabilities and PAYE workers

seasoning of the Galway tent. In other words, it stinks. There are giveaways for fast-food chains and developers but nothing for workers or families and derisory measures for children in poverty, those in housing insecurity or homelessness, and disabled people. It is lots of spin

cent, but it is now at 3.2 per cent; — prices have increased by 23.5 per cent in the last five years; — food prices have increased by 5 per cent in the last year; — Irish electricity prices are among the highest in the European Union (EU), 24 per cent … years at least and they are responsible for the poverty, homelessness, exorbitant rents and crushing financial pressures on families trying to make ends meet on a daily basis. Prices have increased by 23.5% in the past five years. Food prices have gone through the roof, rising by approximately

said, this could have been the game-changer for children and child poverty. Instead, the Government has chosen to give over €600 million in a giveaway - a whopper of a giveaway - for big fast-food chains and big business in the hospitality sector. That is a choice … sort of crazy VAT cut. We did not stand for narrowing the tax base. We stand for decent public services and tackling child poverty and homelessness

price gouging, which has taken root, and greedflation, with soaring food prices in particular. Energy and housing bills are among the highest in Europe. The impact on children is immense. One fifth of children now live in poverty. That is 225,000 children. There are long-term impacts

What does this Government decide to do to distract people this week? It says we should discuss nuclear power. If anything highlights the poverty of the Government's ambition in this area, it is that. It is an utterly brainless idea when states like Germany, Italy and Lithuania … their hardship fund. That shows an absolute poverty of ambition and absolutely no ideas. PrepayPower Energy announced last week that electricity prices are going to rise by nearly 10%. We know the other companies are going to follow. We know food prices are increasing week on week

lifting more than 40,000 children out of poverty, the Government decided to spend the money elsewhere. It gave a blanket VAT cut to the hospitality sector that will disproportionately be eaten up by hugely profitable fast food chains. McDonald's made a profit of €42 million last … weekly cost-of-disability payment, bring forward a second tier of child benefit that would help lift thousands of children out of poverty, target a €400 energy credit at 800,000 families who need it, cut childcare fees by €200 and roll out a public model of childcare

child poverty. Disability has to be prioritised through income supports. A child poverty approach in the budget is essential. I have a child poverty unit in my Department that will come up with proposals. We are committed to this but I hope I get the Opposition’s support … refine and improve it in terms of the quality of food and get all that right but it is a big change. I acknowledge that we need to do more about child poverty but there is a choice facing everyone in this House

That is 506,000 people over five years. We have a strong and resilient economy and the most effective intervention in terms of poverty or living standards is work and jobs. I argue that the policies we have advocated here are advantageous to the enterprise economy … acknowledge, however, that prices are elevated. Food inflation is higher, at about 5%. I appreciate the Deputy's focus on targeting because we do intend to target in the budget. We do intend to prioritise the issue of child poverty and those most in need and under considerable

measly increase in last year's budget did not even keep up with food inflation. You can draw a straight line from that to the fact that the number of older people living in poverty has doubled under the Government's watch. These are our older people