Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Sinn Féin is bringing forward this motion on the rising food prices as we recognise the plight every single worker and low-income family is going through at this moment in time. Food prices are continuing to rise, with groceries expected to cost almost €800 more over the next 12 months. New research has found that 62% of people feel they will have to cut back on food spending over the coming year, with increasing concern that the rising price of food and groceries is forcing many families to go without, as evidenced by the steep increase in the number and range of families now seeking assistance from charities or food banks. The cost of living has risen so much that people are choosing whether to skip a meal or two just so they can pay utility bills or the rent. Spiralling housing costs are pushing increasing numbers of people into poverty, with lone parents, people with disabilities and renters depending on housing supports the worst affected. Data published by the CSO this month state that the overall poverty rate in the State, when housing costs are included, is 19%. Some 952,185 people - almost 1 million - or one in five of the total population are in poverty.

I will look at my constituency of Meath West as a prime example of what is wrong. Last week an Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, report showed that a lone parent with two children, earning €25,000 per year and living in County Meath will pay a €450 top-off on HAP to his or her landlord, compared with the same families living in neighbouring counties, which are paying €252, or in other cases, €226. That is an additional €2,500 per year for a lone parent with two kids in County Meath, or an additional 10% of his or her total income. Surely this is not right or fair? The HAP system is out of date and has not been updated since 2016. In Sinn Féin we want to help families that are stressed with bills. We would put a month's rent back into renters' pockets, reduce childcare fees by two thirds and increase the minimum wage and social welfare rates. We would establish a discretionary fund to help households with utility bills. I call on the Government to introduce these measures as a matter of urgency. This would not even go close to paying the bills people have but it would help ease some of the stress they are going through.

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