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

It is clear that the cost of living package that was announced a number of weeks ago is not enough. It was interesting that the €505 million that was announced was lumped in with the budget. We have raised the cost of living for a number of months, particularly after the survey we conducted last October to which more than 14,000 people responded. At that stage, it was clear that the cost of living was becoming more of an issue and it has only gotten worse.

In response to the issue of the cost of living we hear a lot about the increases in social welfare and the fuel allowance and you would think the Government was doing people a favour. We know that at the moment every single working age social protection payment is below the poverty line. We also know the fuel allowance has still not been restored to 32 weeks since it was cut by a previous Government. For the vast majority of workers out there, aside from the electricity credit that was announced, they will see no assistance whatsoever going forward with their heating bills and that is a problem. It is now more than a year since we brought forward a motion seeking for a discretionary fund to be established. I was told it was on the table but it did not come to pass and people are repeatedly being told to seek an urgent needs payment. However, people who work more than 30 hours per week cannot get that, so there are no supports out there for people who will struggle with their heating. Not only had we supported a mini-budget but we brought forward one three weeks ago and we asked that the Minister would look at that surplus €1.1 billion in VAT receipts above target that was taken in last year. We asked for that to be used to put money back in people’s pockets and support them.

I am glad we are looking at the increased costs on farmers and I see them at home. These increases are crippling, from feed to fertiliser. We know that rural communities depend on farmers and farm families and they are struggling. We already had a crisis and many farms are not viable to begin with. They are now seeing increased costs which are making the situation far worse. I commend the Rural Independent Group on bringing forward this motion and I hope the Government will seek to act because this situation will get worse. What has been announced is not enough. The Government needs to go back to the table.

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