Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the first instance, in a wide ranging presentation, Deputy McDonald said the Government had been doing nothing on the cost of living. I need to disabuse her of that statement. That is a completely false statement to assert because the Government has worked extremely hard and consistently in easing - not by any means mitigating in total - the cost of living increases that have occurred in recent times. Over €2 billion has now been allocated since the budget to try to alleviate pressure on people, particularly people on the fuel allowance. There has been a 55% increase in the fuel allowance from the previous year. We are now paying out around €1,139 this year, including a €125 lump sum, another €100 that will be paid in the coming weeks and the increases in the budget. That is a fairly dramatic increase in the fuel allowance by this Government in a very short space of time. We have reduced the excise duty on petrol, diesel and green diesel until mid-October, saving motorists between €9 and €12 each time they fill their tank. We have reduced VAT from 13.5% to 9% on gas and electricity bills from the start of May until the end of October, resulting in estimated annual savings of €50 and €70, respectively, for households. This month households are seeing the €200 energy credit appearing on their bills. We will reduce the annual Public Service Obligation, PSO, levy from €58 to zero by October 2022.

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