Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

With all the recent talk from Ministers, including the Tánaiste, it is clear from that response that they simply do not get it. They do not get where ordinary people are at and they do not understand the fact rents are spiralling out of control. In my county there was a 24% increase and throughout the State there was an average 10% increase. The Government does not understand the impact this is having on those on low and middle incomes. The Tánaiste talks about a package in the region of €400 million, but that will not scratch the surface of what needs to happen.

We have put forward proposal after proposal to the Government. Do not increase the price of oil and gas in May, which it plans to do by increasing the carbon tax. Put a month's rent back into renters' pockets by introducing a tax credit. The Government has refused to do that. We are blue in the face talking to it about this measure for the past three years.

We are telling the Government that what is needed is cash, directly into the pockets of hard-pressed workers and families. That can be done through a cost of living cash payment of €200 for all those earning below €30,000 and €100 for those earning below €60,000. That is the type of proposal that a Government should be bringing forward if it understood where people are at, but this Government simply does not and it is tantamount to what the Minister of State said the last day, "Stop complaining; do the work yourself and leave the Government alone."

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