Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Mr. Barnes spoke about insulating people from inflation, and not just the inflation we are expecting next year. There is no figure for that in the summer economic statement. Where does IFAC expect inflation to be next year? Will it be in the range of 4% to 5%? Social welfare increases will need to insulate people from last year's increases. As the Government has done nothing this year, it will also need to compensate them for cost increases of almost 10%. It is actually more in view of the fact that inflation rates for social welfare recipients will be higher. What increase in social welfare payments will be needed to insulate people from the spike in inflation this year and next?