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

I appreciate the challenges many people are facing and I know the issues the Deputy raises are ones that too many are confronting. As I said in the debate earlier on carbon taxation, to be emerging from the very dark and difficult pandemic, with all that it meant for employment and income, for many to have to confront rising prices on top of this is a bridge that is hard for many to cross. I accept that, but it is not about the measures I am considering; it is about the measures that have been put in place by the Government. It is about the measures that were introduced in last year's budget. I accept that, with regard to many of the measures we brought in, the Deputy will be of the view that more can, and should, be done.

The changes we made last October that took effect in January included a €5 increase in the weekly payments that are vital to our social welfare code. Changes were made to the living alone allowance, the qualified child allowance and the fuel allowance. We made changes to personal taxation thereby trying to get to a point where more people pay the standard rate of tax on more of their income. This is the reason we increased the personal tax credits. In addition to the measures we put in place, it is about the measures that the Government announced last week. We made changes in the energy credit. There was a lump sum payment of €125 for those in receipt of the fuel allowance. In addition to what we have done on public transport, changes were made to the drugs payment scheme and other important schemes that affect the cost of healthcare. We have brought forward a package of measures that aims to respond to the challenge we know many are facing at present. These are measures that have either been implemented from 1 January or will be implemented in the coming weeks. We know many people need help and the Government is determined to do what it can to provide that help.

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