Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Again, it is in recognition of the challenges society is facing that we have made the changes that formed the core part of our budget day measures. We have made changes in personal tax credits. We have made changes to the level at which a person pays the higher rate of income tax in our country exactly in anticipation of the issues the Deputy is referring to.

We have measures in place in relation to the cost of childcare and medical expenses, particularly those that help families to deal with the costs of medical expenses for families and children. There are a whole array of measures in place in the Department of Social Protection, such as the living alone allowance, the fuel allowance, the qualified child payment, not to mention the needed increase in core rates of €5. All of this is because we fully understand the challenges that many are facing. It is worth saying that while I have responsibility for the measures that we have put in place to try to mitigate some of the issues that many are facing, the issues around the cost of energy are being faced by the entire world at the moment. They are being caused by issues that are being led elsewhere. These are not issues that we control. However, where we can influence, we are doing so. That is why we have the different measures that I have summarised in place.