Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 4 May 2022

Committee on Budgetary Oversight

Stability Programme Update 2022: Minister for Finance

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

I thank the Deputy for the two messages he sent to me. They were appreciated. I appreciate the impact that so many face, particularly those on social welfare and fixed incomes, due to the rising cost of energy. That is why, since the start of the year, we have put in place three separate packages of measures, with much of them being aimed at those who are on low incomes. It is why we brought in the energy credit, the €125 lump sum payment and added to that with a further €100 payment, as well as changes to the drugs payment scheme and working family payment. It is also why we took other measures such as the reduction of the public service obligation levy, which will be implemented in October. Looking at this in the round, the income and social welfare package last year, combined with tax measures, amounted to just over €1 billion. We have done that again such budget day in recognition of the fact that the cost-of-living challenges that many face are different to what we thought was likely last October. I accept that the world has changed for the worse for many, but that is why we have done so much to try to respond to the impact that many face on their standard of living.

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