Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also pass on my best wishes to the Ceann Comhairle for a speedy recovery.

Inflation is at a 14-year high thanks to the rise in energy costs, supply shortages and increased demand following the post-Covid reopening. The Central Statistics Office has confirmed that the rise in prices in October was the largest seen since April 2007. The squeeze on the household budget is due to the Government over-exhausting and crippling the PAYE sector, particularly those living in rural areas. I am going to make it very simple. I have a payslip here from week 33 of the current tax year. If someone earns €500 net into their hand per week, it will cost the employer and the employee €680.65. The employer pays €67.73 PRSI for the employee, who is a single person. PAYE deducts €74.22 per week while the USC deducted is €14.18 and the PRSI €24.52. That is €180.65, which allows the employee to take home €500 per week. Now we must adjust this for the cost of living. An average person commuting to work and with family commitments, in County Limerick, will spend €100 a week on fuel. The Government takes €57 out of that €100. Food for a single moderate person is €20 per day, which equals €140 per week. The Government gets €26 out of that. The ESB bill costs per week €30 and the Government gets €6.40 out of that. Heating costs, which include coal, timber or oil to heat the family home, are roughly €40 per week and the Government takes €7.48 out of that. Clothes and footwear cost about €1,560 a year, which equals €30 a week, and the Government takes €6.40 out of that €30. If this person is lucky enough to rent a room at €100 per week, the Government takes a further €10 out of that. They are then left with €60 for miscellaneous things. God forbid they want to get a pint, go for a meal or go to the cinema with that €60 because the Government will take €12 of that.

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