Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The cost of living crisis is getting worse by the day. People are being financially crippled by the rising costs of groceries, petrol, childcare, rent and heating for their homes. Food prices have increased by nearly 4% in the first three months of this year. We understand that the crisis is global but we need to do what we can to help the people now. Food banks are seeing more and more people turning up and looking for help every week. New research by Permanent TSB found that 62% of people feel they have to cut back on food spending because of the rising costs. The Government claims that it feels the pain of the people but it is clearly out of touch and it is failing to grasp the real challenges that families are facing. People are struggling week to week and having to make decisions about whether to heat their homes or put food on their tables.

In Sinn Féin we have brought forward a package of measures which would help people who are at their wit's end and the Government could act on these measures with the stroke of a pen. The Government could introduce a cost of living cash payment today, which would see those earning less than €30,000 receive €200, while those earning between €30,000 and €60,000 would get €100. This is all part of a package of proposals which would seek to tackle the cost of living. Proposals like putting a month's rent back in renters' pockets and relaxing the rules around exceptional needs payments, as well as reintroducing access to the community welfare officers, CWOs, could also be implemented. The Government needs to get a handle on this. Families are struggling and they cannot wait for the Government’s budget in October. Help is needed in the here and now. Ministers must do all in their power to protect people from the sharp edge of these increases and to keep food on their tables.

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