Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

I will give the Minister some other statistics from the same report. After paying their rent, one in two people living in local authority housing is at risk of poverty. It is even worse for those reliant on HAP or rental accommodation scheme, RAS, of whom 59% are at risk of poverty after paying their rent. More than one in ten of the population is living in enforced deprivation. Almost one person in two of the population is not able to afford to replace worn-out furniture. Almost one in ten cannot afford new clothes. Almost one in ten cannot afford to have family or friends over for a drink or to meet for a meal once a month. That was before the price rises kicked in and affected people. Unless the Government acts now to raise the pitiful levels of social welfare payments, there will be a huge crisis for these people. These are precisely the people who are making the choice between heating or eating. It is why the cost-of-living coalition has come together and is organising our first protest at 1 p.m. this Thursday outside the Dáil. It will be the first protest of many to build a mass movement on the streets to force action from the Government on this issue.

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