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general election. We like to call this challenge a cost-of-living crisis but it is not a crisis because the word "crisis" suggests something temporary that will pass. This is a permacrisis, for want of a better description. It is a structural problem in our economy that … early years system to make sure that childcare is affordable for families. The motion leans extremely heavily on charges associated with fossil fuels. We are not going to make energy cheaper in this country if we continue to rely on fossil fuels and just keep chasing the price

bubble in this House. Is it that it does not know or does not care that there is a cost-of-living crisis? Families are struggling to make ends meet, grocery prices are through the roof and we have some of the highest energy prices in Europe … There are also serious barriers to employment for people with disabilities, including the loss of secondary benefits like travel, household benefits and the fuel allowance. The income disregard of €165 is too low. Many European countries have a full disregard. The question of child poverty is also

Even in the face of this, our job is to protect people here from another economic blow. We are two weeks into this crisis, when workers and families are getting absolutely hammered by skyrocketing prices of petrol, diesel and home heating oil. The price of diesel … collects. It was estimated that in a single week, €38 million was brought in through VAT as a result of these sky-high fuel prices alone, yet the Government refuses to act and stands by. People are demanding that the Government take action and cut the taxes

have often raised the issue of speed limits this week. I was on two radio programmes this morning explaining the situation and the crisis we in west Cork find ourselves in. There are so many roads, including local roads, and we did not have an issue. There will … have gone out of the Chamber but he is saying “You shouldn’t have an electric vehicle. You shouldn’t have a fossil fuel vehicle. You shouldn’t have an SUV vehicle” because he lives in Dublin and he probably cycles around Dublin so he expects people

disabled support grant has been cut by €400, that the living alone allowance lump sum of €200 is being cut, that the fuel allowance is being reduced for disabled people with a net loss of €160 and that the October double payment of €254 and the electricity credits … worry because it will deal with it then. They cannot wait because the cuts have been implemented now and the cost-of-living crisis is now. They need support right

kerosene lasts for a few weeks but our house is still cold and I cannot afford to fill it, even after the fuel payment. The roof needs to be fixed and every room needs replacing. It would cost … because I have to work, because I have to afford the therapies for my child and just to survive the cost-of-living crisis. I do not have the luxury of not working. It is an absolute insult to call this budget one for the working families

services, showing openness to public investment in the sector. Parents already have enough to manage, from getting to work every day with rising fuel costs, including the recent carbon tax, to paying mortgages. Sometimes, the cost of childcare is nearly as high as the mortgage itself. The everyday … that they did not want to be here. The parents followed them. They came here because the parents supported them and understood the crisis they were facing, but the Government ignored them for many years. I plead with the Minister of State to turn that around immediately

allowance rate by €5 - an increase of 13% - supporting support more than 470,000 households. I will increase the income threshold for the fuel allowance for single pensioners from €534 to €641 per week, and I am also increasing the living alone allowance rate by €3 per week … people aged up to 37. Budget 2027 provides for a record level of investment in mental health, delivering: increased resourcing for early intervention, crisis supports and new ADHD pathways in CAMHS; 33,000 extra hours of free counselling for men, young people and the LGBTQI+ community; and investment

When we think of where we have been in the past two decades, this is an astonishing accomplishment. From the depths of financial crisis to the shocks of Brexit, the pandemic and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, we have rebuilt our economy together … help ease that burden. Even before budget day, we had made €1.3 billion available in supports cutting the rate of excise duties on fuel, delaying scheduled carbon tax increases and extending the fuel allowance season and we put in place support schemes for the haulage and agricultural sectors

this House can dispute. Irish families and small businesses are being crippled by electricity costs and if anyone doubts the scale of that crisis, they only need to look at the figures. At the end of last year, nearly 320,000 households in this country were behind … able to pull up, plug in, tap their debit or credit card and charge their car. It should be as simple as buying fuel with no apps, no confusion and no barrier. As a matter of fact, the only place I have been told about in Ireland - there

toll charges rise again. These increases are not about improving roads or services; they are solely about increasing private profit. Meanwhile, the housing crisis continues to push workers further away from our cities and towns, forcing longer commutes and higher toll costs just to get to work. This … make? They cannot do that. As a result, they are stuck in their cars and facing huge costs - including those relating to insurance, fuel and tolls - because the State has not provided sufficient public transport for them. What I have outlined impacts my constituents on a weekly basis

value we place on the people whose work keeps this country running every single day. We are living through a cost-of-living crisis that has not eased and shows no sign of easing in any way, any time soon, for ordinary households. Inflation may fluctuate on paper … PAYE and self-employed workers. At the same time, it introduced an improved diesel rebate scheme backdated to January 2026, and other sectoral fuel supports. Once again, ordinary workers were left behind while selective reliefs were prioritised. Since the general election, the Government has repeatedly voted down Labour

face, and it was a concern during that week, was that some of the parameters of our taxation regime when it comes to fuels and VAT rates are controlled by the European Union. The European Union bloc needs to reflect on that and have more flexibility at this … parameters of taxation and what we can do with mother ship Europe. We need interventions on the home front as this crisis continues. All of that needs to be very much spotlighted. As I said, close to 20,000 Ukrainian children are missing. There have to be answers

increase in the fuel allowance of €5 per week from January. The increase in the child support payment, the extension of the fuel allowance to all those in receipt of the working family payment, the increase in the thresholds relating to the allowance and the expansion … This will bridge the viability gap and kick-start the private housing market. This is essential if we are to solve the housing crisis. The expansion of the living city initiative is potentially transformative. The extension of the scheme to five additional towns of Sligo, Athlone, Dundalk, Letterkenny

acknowledge Aontú for tabling this motion in good faith. It names a crisis that is biting every man, woman and child in this country. Families with two incomes are working harder than their parents ever did and having less to show for it. Grocery bills … Independent Ireland, objects to renewable energy but we realise the importance and the reality that we are going to be dependent on fossil fuels for another 20 to 40 years. We can face the facts and deal in reality, unlike the Government. The Government chose not to open

sector on its transition to decarbonisation. The sector has faced multiple shocks in recent years and its response to the national and geopolitical crisis must be applauded. It has worked with policy makers to develop innovative and practical measures to keep our supply chains moving and viable into … would have liked, it does not mean we can stop our considerations of how to encourage and maximise the use of alternative fuels. The Department of Transport has commissioned a study to conduct a hierarchy-of-use assessment of HVO in transport modes, including land transport, aviation

America. This contradiction undermines the credibility of the deal. The agreement completely undermines efforts toward sustainable food production and tackling the global climate crisis. Addressing these concerns requires robust enforcement of environmental protections and harmonisation of food safety regulations to ensure that trade expansion does not come … chains and food processors have significant control over pricing, sometimes paying farmers less than the cost of production. Meanwhile, input costs such as fuel, feed, and fertilizer continue to rise which cuts into the margins of small farmers in particular. If we want a strong and sustainable future

picture here is that these energy companies need to be reined in. This gross profiteering in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis needs to be stamped out. This oligarchical-like behaviour needs to be stamped out. The energy market is supposed to be competitive … centres are having on our water usage and our emissions. The massive energy demands from these data centres means they guzzle through fossil fuels and are taking basically all of the relatively small amount of new renewable energy we are currently producing. This renewable energy could be used

costais tí tríd an liúntais breosla agus leas sóisialta. Third, I welcome the additional supports for those struggling with households cost through the fuel allowance, which the Independents pushed for, and social welfare measures. I will also mention some of the other measures in the budget that will … disability payment that an Teachta Toole mentioned. I want us to continue to reduce childcare costs and, for my generation, tackle the housing crisis. I will continue to support the Government as long as it progresses the programme for Government that I signed up to. I have voted

concrete measures that can be implemented right now at little or no cost. Eco-driving techniques can help drivers to reduce their fuel use and emissions, while enhancing road safety for all road users. A national standard for eco-driving courses has been established and a range … representing approximately 81% and 74% of the overall road haulage operators licensed in the State. The support scheme operated under the EU temporary crisis framework on state aid was adopted to address the economic impacts, in particular on energy prices, of the war in Ukraine. In January this

natural gas. For those who can neither afford nor access an alternative source to heat their homes, this is not just about fuel; rather, it is about their lifelines. If these systems are unsafe or fail, the consequences can be catastrophic and lives are put at risk … Raes, are now in support of it. Therefore, people are paying much higher prices for heat and transport in a cost-of-living crisis. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Healy-Raes and the Regional Independents did this in the context of energy companies raising their prices despite