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home heating oil. There was an announcement of €43, which is just nothing in terms of the actual impact of the cost-of-living crisis. Since the start of the year, a fill of home heating oil has increased by €713 or 75%. Does the Minister feel that … perhaps the Government did not get it right in finding a genuine shift for people on the cost of living

incomes. That is the way it should be, and it will continue that way. We have also done a lot on the cost of living, by the way. Over the past five years in particular, we have intervened significantly every year to try to protect people, including working … childcare costs and we have brought in a new cost-of-disability payment. We have taken a lot of measures on the cost-of-living side

that is worth about €4 per week. Think about that: €4 per week in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. I have said that the budget could be summed up in five words: "Gone before you get it". That is exactly what has happened. Whether … little bit back in tax that has been eaten up by the cost of living, renters left handing over more and more of their pay cheques in rent, people on fuel allowance actually getting less this winter than they got last winter, the tiny reduction in the 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 … incomes coming into the family home are unable to make ends meet because on one side, the Government is engineering a cost-of-living crisis by overtaxing energy. Today, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, put €41 extra on electricity

some revenues to spare and we have to help people means acknowledging the bottlenecks in the system. The greatest threat to the cost of living for ordinary families is not necessarily tinkering with the tax bands and saying here is a few extra quid for them … school has enough teachers to function and a hospital has enough nurses to clear its waiting lists, we lower the structural cost of living in a sustainable manner. Instead, we are adding to costs by failing to keep our homegrown staff. They are going abroad. Nurses, for example

text from a constituent asking, “How have we arrived at a situation where every dog in the street knows the cost of living has soared and this current Government does not understand the increased pressures and needs of ordinary people?” I want to raise with the Minister … public sector pay deal? How will the Government make it up to them to ensure that their pay keeps up with the cost of living and that their conditions are appropriate to the public sector

taxes on wealth and offered a public sector package that would barely cover a 2.5% increase at a time when the cost-of-living crisis is biting deeply and inflation is running at nearly 4% and rising. The country has never had more money, but one in five … unions have asked and as our motion today makes clear. They must look to protect public servants against the cost-of-living crisis and against rising inflation. We all know how much public servants do. They go above and beyond but you cannot run a country on goodwill

shown absolutely no interest in finding an agreement at all. It has shown no interest in listening to workers struggling with the cost of living, no interest in engaging in meaningful negotiations and no interest in securing a fair pay deal for our public sector workers. It beggars … agenda. Most importantly, the Government needs to show people that it wants to protect workers' wages from increases in the cost of living. This must be the end of treating our public sector workers with contempt. They should not have to go on strike just to be treated

option. Workers do not take industrial action lightly. They take this action at great personal cost because of the severity of the cost-of-living crisis. I want to give my support to the nurses, teachers, SNAs, carers, civil servants, the fire service, local authority workers … trade unions. Their demands are simple and fair. They need a genuine inflation-proof pay increase to keep up with the cost of living. The Minister needs a reminder that he had no problem with the Government when it signed off on 21 massive pay increases

people, I wonder whether there is some idea in the Government that public sector workers are somehow removed or insulated from the cost-of-living crisis. I would say that many of them are worse affected. If we look at public health nurses and SNAs, and people … have to travel in rural areas, with the mileage still the same as it was before this cost-of-living crisis, it is costing them to go to work. The Minister and the Government are saying they have been clear all along but they have been anything

amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "recognises that" and substitute the following: ": — people are suffering because of the cost-of-living crisis, as prices of goods and services have increased by 22 per cent over the past five years, and wage increases have fallen behind inflation … really struggling to afford petrol, home heating oil and electricity. They cannot get by. Their wages are falling behind because of the cost-of-living crisis. They need and deserve a decent pay rise and a win for the public sector workers will be a win for everybody

Government did not engage or listen to people, and particularly businesses which are finding it so difficult to cope with the cost-of-living pressures, the increases in fuel and whatnot. What always strikes me about this place is that we do not hear of NGOs coming kicking … need more assistance. What is unbelievable is the sense that it was thought some workers would simply continue to absorb the cost-of-living pressures indefinitely, that they were to be quiet and go quietly about their work and that they would not say anything or resist

nothing for the ordinary worker. The tax credit changes proposed by the Government will barely make a dent in the cost of living or improve conditions for many working families. They are not going to be able to pay their heating bills. They are not going … workers from inflation. The Government needs to support public sector workers, fully recognise the work they do and protect them in this cost-of-living crisis, which is deeply affecting so many of them

measures designed to try to reduce the pressure on working people, both public servants and private sector workers, in terms of the cost of living. If you combine what we did in the budget with the actual provision of €1.2 billion in the Estimates, by any objective yardstick … think about it, including Covid, the war in Ukraine and the war in the Middle East. All are impacting on cost-of-living pressures, and sometimes in such moments of crisis internationally a broader social approach can be helpful

rising home heating costs, and has continuously acted to allay these pressures; — successive Budgets have provided targeted support to help households with cost-of-living pressures, and re-affirms that energy affordability is a priority for the Government; — that the Government remains committed to decarbonising our society, increasing … running the Government, which was democratically elected by the will of the people a number of years ago. I acknowledge that the cost of living is the number one issue affecting people across the country. I and my colleagues hear it and we understand the pressures families

been drastic and catastrophic for many families, households and businesses. An energy crisis has now contributed to what is a major cost-of-living crisis. PwC recently estimated that home-heating oil costs have surged a stunning 175% since August of 2020, one of the largest percentage increases … cost pressure is particularly acute and felt widely across society. We have a full-blown energy crisis and an accelerating cost-of-living crisis and all of that is happening against the backdrop of climate breakdown brought about by the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from

compared with the same month last year. They are astronomical increases, particularly at time when families are devastated by a cost-of-living crisis. Budget 2027 last week, in the teeth of those increases, gave relief of only €43 on 1,000 litres of oil, a remarkable slap … face for 700,000 households. The carbon tax is another unfair tax heaped on families already reeling from the cost-of-living crisis. It should be abolished on home heating oil, together with a reduction in VAT to give real relief to families. This is all the more

measures outlined in the programme for Government are being implemented. I know all too well that people are finding the increased cost of living very tough. Budget 2027 has sought to address that challenge through various methods. The cut on excise duty on petrol and diesel will remain … work on this. The lump sum payment of €500 will help bridge the gap between the current weekly disability allowance and the cost of living with a disability today. In my own Department of Transport, I am delighted to confirm €6.5 million funding for the vehicle adaptation scheme

investor fund landlords, big developers and the banks that have seen their profits soar in the middle of this housing and cost-of-living catastrophe. IRES REIT, Ireland's largest vulture fund landlord, has tripled its pre-tax profit this year and thanked the Government publicly … young people, workers, carers or any normal people able to try to find the funding to build a home in a cost-of-living crisis? Of course, of what is being built in Dublin absolutely nothing is available for sale. What has been built in terms of affordable

which takes responsibility for the welfare of its people. It would be one that can build homes, tackle poverty, address a cost-of-living crisis and provide public services that leave no one behind in health, whether in childcare, education or disability services. It would be a state … sighted, short-term budget, we are seeing very little vision, no ambition and nothing for those who are struggling now in a cost-of-living and cost-of-energy crisis

resources to be ambitious but instead opted for a series of modest measures that would be quickly swallowed up by the huge cost-of-living crisis. Despite record tax receipts and substantial budget surpluses, families, workers, pensioners, farmers and small business people will continue to experience financial pressures … Like the curate's egg, good in spots but very little for everyone, and kind of robbing Peter to pay Paul. The cost of living, fuel and energy are just so expensive. Why does the Government have to take almost 50% out of every litre of petrol

west midlands. Budget 2027 was billed as a budget for working people, however. It was going to help households with the cost of living, tackle the housing crisis and prepare Ireland for the future. Hope was on the way. When we strip away the spin, there was only … while the Government is sitting back and waiting, and there are no energy credits. This is the reality of the so-called cost-of-living response, which was a priority for the electorate. The Government has failed to get a grip on energy costs. Where is the cheaper

next week. One of her children is in primary school. She said the reason she is going on strike is that the cost of living is just too damn high. These are her words. She is really careful with money but it is all scrimp and no save … situation of a so-called professional worker in this country. There was a campaign afoot over the weekend to pretend that the cost of living is not an issue anymore, citing the inflation rate going down. The inflation rate actually went up on last year

living in poverty. A sum of €3 would not even buy a cup of coffee, let alone help older people with the cost of living. Many older people will also be disappointed with the €10 increase in the State pension. At least €15, which is what the Labour … Party had proposed in our alternative budget, was needed to help older people and carers with the cost of living. The €10 does not even match the rate of inflation. The domiciliary care allowance, DCA, was left out of any increases by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael

necessary requirements. The common denominator is recruitment. To recruit and retain staff, we either need to increase the wages or reduce the cost of living. I mentioned this budget was an inflationary budget that is going to push up the cost of living. We should instead examine targeted

Health if she will consider reducing the drugs payment scheme threshold from €80 back to €53 per month, in light of ongoing cost-of-living pressures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39011/25

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will advocate for an increase in the fostering allowance in line with the cost of living for budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38336/25

reduce student contributions; if the temporary reduction in the student contribution fee will continue or if the base figure prior to cost-of-living measures of €3,000 will be re-instated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38263/25

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the increases in SUSI grants have kept pace with the cost-of-living increases in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37405/25

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will make a strong case to Cabinet to retain the cost-of-living reduction of €1,000 for student fees in budget 2026 and to making this welcome initiative a permanent feature; and if he will

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance whether the social welfare payments announced in the cost of living package in the previous year are exempt from tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37304/25

eligibility limit for affordable cost rental in County Cork to match the household income limit that applies in Dublin, given the comparable cost of living and price of houses in both areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37428/25

asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any plan to increase the rate of €289 maternity benefit, considering the rising cost of living, parenthood, and childcare, especially for families with multiple children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37202/25

Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider retaining the €1,000 college-fee reduction introduced as part of the cost-of-living measures, in light of the ongoing financial pressures facing families due to the high cost of food, utilities and housing

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to retain the cost of living reduction of €1,000 for student fees in Budget 2026 and make this initiative a permanent feature going forward (details supplied); and if he will make

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will reconsider the recent announcement regarding the €1,000 cost-of-living support towards third level college fees not being continued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37576/25

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth in light of the exponential rise in the cost-of-living index since 2005, when the block grant for a school (details supplied) was set, if she plans to increase this block grant; and if she will make

extending the eligibility criteria for the young adult Leap card to include all individuals under the age of 30, given the ongoing cost of living pressures facing this age group; if he has assessed the affordability and impact of such a measure in advance of Budget

lever to take people out of consistent poverty in the context that our social protection payments are not linked to the cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34534/25

currently set at €50,000 and has not been reviewed for years and is out of touch with inflation and the current cost of living (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33091/25

PRSI at Class D rates throughout their careers, are now excluded from receiving social welfare supports such as the Christmas bonus and cost-of-living payments; if he will consider options to address this disparity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31983/25

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on how his Department is addressing the rising cost of living for people with disabilities; the plans to increase core disability supports in response to inflation and the well-documented extra costs associated with living with

redundancy guidelines, with a view to reducing the time required to claim a payment and to increase payments, given the rise in cost of living. [30901/25

Minister for Health if there are plans to increase the income thresholds for the awarding of medical cards, given the rising cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29603/25

asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has analysed the need to increase the guide dog allowance to keep pace with cost-of-living increases; and when this allowance was last increased.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27781/25

Reform if he will examine the need for a pay rise in the public sector to take account of the increased cost of living in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27866/25

measures being considered to ensure such companies bring their rates in line with the broader market, particularly in light of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis; if he will confirm whether he is considering regulation or policy action to protect mortgage holders, particularly working families, from disproportionate

which are filed and paid in full no more than a few days late, when businesses are already struggling with the high cost of living and there is no loss to Revenue; the reason this is being allowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter

will consider reforming the State’s equivalence scales or poverty metrics to incorporate a disability-related weighting to reflect the higher cost of living associated with disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24808/25

review whether current core social welfare rates are meeting people’s basic needs, particularly in areas like Dublin Bay north where the cost of living continues to rise and many families are struggling with rent, energy bills, and food costs; to consider targeted increases for those