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profiteering that is going on. The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Ministers stand up here and say, "What can we do about the cost of living? Energy costs are going up. It is because of the war in the Middle East. It is because of rising fuel costs." However … people are paying for it. They are paying through higher energy bills, rents, bank fees, insurance premiums and food costs. During the cost-of-living crisis, profiteering and price gouging are going on and we have seen an absolute failure of the Government to tackle that. There

billion to fund €500 energy credits for households. I am sharing time with Deputy Coppinger. The budget is coming up. The cost-of-living crisis impacting huge numbers of people is on everybody's lips. This is, of course, added to the housing crisis blighting the lives … many. People are asking if the Government is going to help those who are struggling. There are many aspects to the cost-of-living crisis. There is the cost of accommodation and housing, the cost of childcare, the cost of public transport and the cost of groceries

money to the people who need it, whether that is hard-pressed households in Arklow or elsewhere in Ireland suffering from the cost-of-living crisis. We need to see an end to the discounted energy rates for data centres and a moratorium on the building … these new facilities to protect the national grid and to meet our climate targets. The Government may claim there is not a cost-of-living crisis anymore but families know differently. Every week, people are paying more for groceries, more for fuel, more for rent and more

thank the proposers of this motion for giving us the opportunity to raise important issues around the cost of living. The Social Democrats have said time and again that the Government needs to introduce, as an emergency measure, targeted energy credits. The Government seems to have no interest … emergency measures, namely, the cost-of-disability payment and targeted energy credits, we need investment in permanent measures to bring down the cost of living. My colleague, Deputy Whitmore, spoke about that. It makes no sense that we live on a windy island on the edge of Europe

mistake in not having targeted energy credits aimed at low-to-middle-income households that are really feeling pain from this cost-of-living crisis and not just from the increases that have happened since the attacks on Iran, given that we were already experiencing a cost … from the Government's approach and much of this discussion is investment in long-term measures that would permanently bring down the cost of living, such as the proposals that we put forward on solar energy. A targeted energy credit of €400 should be part and parcel

carbon tax because people have no option. It is a regressive tax, plain and simple. We are in the middle of a cost-of-living challenge for so many people. People are getting hammered by costs. This started long before the attacks on Iran that sent the energy … excise duty cuts to home heating oil. That is why and how the protests tapped into the wider anger at the cost-of-living crisis, an anger that comes from feeling that it is just one thing after another. When we are talking about fuel costs

Government policy, made a profit last year of €636 million, at a time people are in trouble in the context of the cost-of-living crisis. One third of a million people are in energy arrears at the moment, and a semi-State is milking the system … them in October and every October until 2030. There were some €4.1 billion in taxes last year. In the jaws of a cost-of-living crisis, the Government made more in fuel taxes than ever before. That is absolutely wrong. The cost of diesel has increased

behalf of people who are getting crushed by a cost-of-living crisis. When they look to the Government, they see a Government that is out of touch and out of ideas. We have presented what we believe needs to be done. Others have done the same … when to get some help and support. They need that help and support now. That is why people say there is a cost-of-living crisis. The Government may not choose to recognise or acknowledge that. It can stick its fingers in its ears and refuse to hear

thank the Labour Party for the motion and for suggesting that we should have a mini-budget to address the cost-of-living crisis. We agree with quite a number of the measures and some were in our alternative budget. It is a fact that the rich … getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. While a cost-of-living crisis is going on for working people in this country, where half a million people either are either in gas or electricity arrears and are crushed by the USC, carbon taxes, energy price hikes

present, the Irish people are facing unprecedented challenges. They are trying to make ends meet in the face of an ever-expanding cost-of-living crisis. Workers and families the length and breadth of the country are being hammered by soaring prices. If it is not rents, student … Government cannot detach itself from the reality that the decision to withdraw energy credits and the failure to deliver an effective cost-of-living package is causing hardship and leading to more people falling into arrears. The reality is people are having to work overtime just to keep

from what we see and from what our constituents tell us, people are struggling and suffering. They are being devastated by a cost-of-living crisis. What we are being told about the reality of people's lives is that they cannot cover the basics. There are people … Tánaiste knows this. There are also young people who are trying to save for a deposit to buy a home. The cost of living is eroding their dreams even further. We have 320,000 people in arrears. We have families who are deciding whether they can afford

were thinking, "What will the Government do when under massive public pressure to do something to protect people from the renewed cost-of-living crisis?" Looking at this proposal, however, this measure in particular, it is hard to imagine something meaner. There is a crisis out there. Close … because it is so utterly inadequate in resolving the crisis that people face. We know that people have entered into a new cost-of-living crisis that has come on the back of an existing cost-of-living crisis. We know the impact of that. Four

four weeks to deal with this issue of support for workers and families in the middle of what was already a cost-of-living crisis. It is important to remember that, before the fuel crisis was brought on by the attacks in Iran and the impacts … attacks Iran has launched in the Middle East, we had a cost-of-living crisis. Many families and businesses were already pushed to the pin of their collar. The real challenges people are facing in terms of just meeting basic necessities have been well rehearsed. I have heard

move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises that: — workers and families have been hit by an unrelenting cost-of-living crisis; — the Government have failed to act to end this rip-off, and get prices under control; — the turmoil in international energy markets, as a result of the unjustified attacks … Iran, is compounding an existing cost-of-living crisis, and risks causing severe hardship for many people; — inflation was running far above the Government's projections, even before the most recent shock in energy markets; — record levels of people were already unable to pay their electricity bills, with

feels in many ways like Groundhog Day talking again about a cost-of-living crisis. Of course, this cost-of-living crisis comes on top of a cost-of-living crisis that had not gone away, despite what the Government pretended at the time of the budget … behind that is our continued reliance on fossil fuels and most immediately is short-term profiteering, which we know, in the previous cost-of-living crisis was responsible for two thirds of the price increases. The Government's response, to quote the Taoiseach, is to say that

cuts across so much and affects almost everyone, but of course impacts on people with the least means the most. The rising cost of living has been one of the most challenging hallmarks of this decade. So many people and families have been left in a deeply precarious … dairy and coffee, but we do not see tailored solutions that recognise the unique combination of factors that hit Irish consumers. Targeted cost-of-living supports focused on essentials like groceries would go a long way in helping some of the hardest hit families here. The climate crisis

launch of the affordable Ireland campaign recognises the fact that this right-wing Government will only take action on the cost-of-living crisis if it is forced to do so. Left to their own devices, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the right-wing Independents will do nothing … commitment to climate action and the legal targets it has signed up to and making ordinary people pay the price for the cost-of-living crisis. Real climate action and cost-of-living action go hand in hand. It is the same with rents. Ordinary people pay more

social protection in 2026, including over €1.15 billion of new measures targeted to assist the most vulnerable in our society with the cost of living; — the supports provided in the budget package helps vulnerable households with the cost of energy bills, such as an increase in the Fuel … pleased to be here to discuss a Private Members' motion that attempts to address a number of issues to do with the cost of living in Ireland. The Government opposes this motion. I assure the House that the Government is acutely aware of the impact of rising prices

glad they do. I thank Deputy Healy for doing this but the fact we are putting down Private Members’ motions on the cost-of-living crisis in one of the richest states in the world says something. We talk to constituents and constituents come … developers with their tax breaks, those in the highest echelons of semi-State organisations and all those others. There is no cost-of-living crisis for them and there are no worries about increases for those people. That is the problem. Yesterday, this House went through the disaster

very well written and comprehensive. It articulates a lot of what is wrong in the country right now and the cost-of-living crisis. I attended a conference late last year, hosted by the European Council on Social Rights, on the cost-of-living crisis. At that conference … beyond the social protection increases in budget 2026 and one of the highest in Europe. Core to this question of the cost of living is what the components are. They are energy, food, childcare and housing - the list seems endless. What is not often reported are the extreme

past number of years under Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil Governments we have seen what feels like a permanent cost-of-living crisis. People are being squeezed from every angle, be it grocery price inflation, the cost of renting or buying a home or childcare costs, something … conscious choice to instead give a needless tax cut to the likes of McDonald's and big property developers. The cost-of-living crisis has perhaps never been so acute but now that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have bought the votes they needed to get back into

himself has said? Consumers are searching desperately for cheaper energy costs as the Government will not act, despite the State experiencing a cost-of-living crisis that continues to hit hard. In recent months, Bord Gáis Energy, Flogas, SSE Airtricity, Pinergy and Energia have all increased their consumer … financially. Consumers desperately need assistance, yet the recent €9.4 billion budget provided nothing to workers or families. The Government has compounded the cost-of-living crisis by failing to deliver cost-of-living supports and energy credits in the recent budget. It has further compounded this crisis

shocrú dóibh siúd ag barr an dréimire, ach diúltaíonn siad cuidiú le gnáth-theaghlaigh atá faoi bhrú agus atá ag streachailt. The cost-of-living crisis is completely out of control. It is getting worse by the day. It is putting people under massive pressure. We have constant … nothing. Last month, you delivered a budget of €9.4 billion that left people worse off. It was a budget with no cost-of-living package, where you broke your promise of tax breaks for workers. It was littered with cushy tax breaks for top-brass executives, developers

budget has hit their pockets. This is a Government that preaches prudence yet squanders billions on tax breaks for the rich. The cost-of-living crisis did not end just because Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil decided to stop talking about it. Prices are still sky-high, grocery … heating, this Government has chosen to give McDonalds and Starbucks a VAT cut. On what planet is that a solution to the cost-of-living crisis? The Government has done nothing to ease household bills, to bring down grocery prices or to tackle sky-high rents

cost-of-living crisis did not end once the election was over last year. A recent report from Barnardos found that four out of ten parents skip meals or eat less to stop their children going hungry. This Government has forgotten about these families. This is a giveaway … 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 being singled

which geopolitical instability is contributing to increased import costs for energy, food, and key goods in Ireland; the estimated impact on the cost of living for households; and the measures being taken at EU and national level to mitigate these pressures; and if he will make a statement

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he is planning to undertake any emergency measures to help people deal with increases in the cost-of-living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27661/26

March 2022; whether any assessment was carried out on the impact of this increase on motorists, particularly in the context of cost-of-living pressures; and if he will consider reviewing or reducing the current clamp release charge. [37162/26

Post pensions will be approved and paid to members of the scheme; if this will be prioritised in light of the current cost-of-living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35458/26

Research, Innovation and Science to give favourable consideration to index linking SUSI maintenance grants in line with rising accommodation costs and the cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34844/26

Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if will review and engage with stakeholders in relation to apprentice wages given the current cost of living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34345/26

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the absence of a cost-of-living increase for Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) pensioners; the reason such an increase has not been provided; if any proposals to address this issue are under consideration

Michael Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to provide a detailed response to correspondence that summarises the seriousness of the cost of living crisis, where a family with two good jobs are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet; the action he is taking

demands on carers; if he accepts that the current system does not adequately reflect the value of unpaid care work or the cost of living pressures faced by family carers; the consideration being given to removing or reforming the means test for carer's allowance

minimum wage for apprenticeships; whether he will increase the minimum wage for apprentices to encourage participation in light of the rising cost-of-living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34006/26

rate of tax relief on qualifying health expenses not covered by private health insurance in light of rising healthcare costs and cost-of living pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32787/26

Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has given consideration to an emergency cost-of-living payment to vulnerable households at risk of poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31203/26

will increase his departmental budget allocation in budget 2027 to those in receipt of the State pension, in response to the increased cost of living as a result of the conflict in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31283/26

Social Protection the measures being taken to support low-income households in rural constituencies such as Galway east in light of ongoing cost-of-living pressures, including fuel, transport and childcare costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31111/26

introduce free public transport, in the light of the recent fuel crisis, the need to reduce fossil fuel and to address the cost-of-living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31342/26

extend or make permanent reduced public transport fares; and the assessment that has been made of their impact on passenger numbers and cost-of-living. [31115/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration will be given to the cost-of-living crisis and ensure that low to middle-income workers are a priority in the upcoming budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31678/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the merits of providing for cost-of-living supports for people with a diagnosis of dementia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31506/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the merits of providing for cost-of-living supports for people with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31507/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the merits of providing for cost-of-living supports for people with a diagnosis of early onset dementia, particularly for those very much short of retirement age; and if he will make a statement

with early June last year; and the reason no instalment or phased payment system is available to support families during the ongoing cost-of-living pressures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31008/26

Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether the level of wages for apprentices is adequate, especially in light of the cost-of-living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30445/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether any cost-of-living, inflation or domestic energy price benchmarking formed part of the most recent review of the electricity allowance and natural gas allowance; and if so, to provide details of the methodology used. [29797/26

Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will increase the SUSI grant given current levels do not fully reflect the rising cost of living for students and families. [30547/26

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth in light of the cost-of-living crisis and cost-of-doing-business crisis, if she will reverse the reintroduction of leaving certificate and junior certificate fees, and increases in school transport fees; and if she will