Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. It is a very timely one, given that the level 3 nationwide restrictions came into effect at midnight. The way we support workers through income supports is particularly important at this time. We know how quickly the number of PUP recipients increased when Dublin and Donegal went into level 3 and so we know that many workers across the State will now reapply for the PUP. This week, over 205,000 people received the PUP. Of those, more than 121,000 received the rate of €300, down from €350 previously. According to a recent reply I received to a parliamentary question, those on €300 per week had average earnings of about €568 pre-Covid and so that cohort of people, which is the vast majority of those receiving the PUP, is down over €200 every single week. Others who previously earned between €200 and €300 a week are receiving €250, so some of them are down €50. People who have lost their jobs and who are now living on a reduced income still have to pay their mortgages because the mortgage break is over. They have to pay their rent because the ban on evictions that gave these workers and families that small protection that ensured they would not be made homeless in the midst of a global pandemic is gone.

Electricity prices increased at the start of this month when Electric Ireland increased its electricity rates. Increases in carbon tax have also occurred and there has been mention of an increase in the public service obligation or PSO levy. We already pay some of the highest electricity prices in Europe and utility bills are building for workers and families at this time.

Not only has the Government cut the PUP, it has also taken away basic protections for people at a time they need them most. The Minister is shaking her head but the mortgage payment break and the ban on evictions are gone now. Those protections are gone.

A recent survey commissioned by MABS suggests that up to 1 million people are worried about meeting their debt repayments. The Minister made reference to the fact that disposable income is on the rise but the reality is that up to 1 million people are worried about debt. MABS has said that a "tsunami of debt" is coming down the track. I carried out an online survey last month. Almost 500 people participated, with nearly equal representation from urban and rural Ireland. A total of 94% of the respondents were concerned about household debt, 80% have seen an increase in their debt since Covid-19 in March, 48% have had to increase their borrowings, 58% are in arrears with certain payments, including utility bills, while 38% were in arrears on their mortgage or rent. What was especially stark about this survey was the number of people who left comments, told their story or shared their own experience. More than 300 of the survey respondents did so. I will give the House a flavour of the comments that were left. One person commented:

Two jobs lost through pandemic, both permanently gone. Had to cancel health insurance that we have had for 30 years due to not being able to afford it anymore.

Another commented:

Shopping on weekly basis is gone as we don't have it, as bills come first... [the] impact on our mental health and physical health is unreal. I am trying to keep things together for the sake of my family. I cry most nights going to bed so my son and husband don't see how much it's taken a toll. My husband has never been out of work and he is finding this extremely hard.

Another said:

We can barely manage to do a weekly shop and feed our kids at the moment and with the mortgage break up now, there's a possibility of homelessness.

Another commented:

I'm about to finish my mortgage break and still can't go back to my job. Worried about getting into arrears.

Another commented:

Not sleeping, anxiety, depression, thinking what's the point anymore.

Yet another commented as follows:

Can't put into words how horrible it is to have to say no to your children when you just can't afford things.

What was most stark about that survey was not so much the impact of the loss of income but the impact on mental health, which is something I hope the Government will address in the forthcoming budget. The survey makes clear that not only do people need income support, they also need mental health support because this is something that will have a long term impact on many workers and families.

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