Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We will have five minutes each. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue of major concern to people. The spiralling cost of living is a hot topic in every household. Ireland is one of the most expensive places in Europe to live, with prices 40% higher than the EU average. With prices skyrocketing at rates not seen for four decades, people are lying awake at night concerned about how they are going to survive the winter. My office is receiving high volumes of calls from constituents who are genuinely terrified. They are already extremely financially restrained and simply do not know from where the extra money is going to come. For example, new figures have revealed that the cost of living is more than €4,000 per month for a family with two children. That is unsustainable.

The Government needs to get on top of this situation now, as the current measures that have been introduced are not enough. For example, the introduction of free school transport has not worked. On the contrary, many students have been left without transport, which is an added worry for parents who, for the past number of years, have relied on this form of transport to allow them to get to work on time. It was acknowledged by the Tánaiste this week that free school transport was a mistake, given how it is overprescribed. The Taoiseach disagreed with this statement at the talk-in this week, positing that the long-term embedding of behavioural changes could counteract the impact of this failing, but these behavioural changes will not help the affected families now. What are we going to do about this situation now?

The cycle to work scheme is a great initiative, but only if one is living in close proximity to work or college. Therefore, travel costs for commuters to work and college must be reviewed, especially for rural Ireland. Spain has recently implemented measures offering free travel on state-owned suburban and regional public transport from 1 September to 31 December 2022, thanks to a windfall tax.

Germany introduced a nationwide ticket costing €9 a month, offering unlimited travel on most public transport, apart from express intercity trains. Such initiatives will provide relief to commuter costs amid this cost-of-living crisis. I urge the Government to consider implementing similar in Ireland as soon as possible.

The fuel allowance payment is a great payment which helps many people. However, it is a means-tested payment. Recently, I had a constituent being refused due to being €6 over the income threshold. As the fuel allowance payment is €33, this €6, which is less than one hour’s work, has cost this lady €27 per week. Due to the rise in the cost of living, the means assessment qualification must also rise. Instead of raising the monetary allowance granted for fuel allowance, I suggest an increase in the means assessment so it can benefit more people who badly need this assistance. For example, middle-income workers, like my constituent, are constantly missing out on allowances such as the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance due to being slightly over the means test.

We also need to look at the combined housing costs such as rents, mortgage rates, gas and electricity, which are the most expensive at 89% above the EU average. While the Government's ten-year housing plan may bring relief in the long term, more immediate action is needed to relieve the burden on renters, with many people paying more in rent than they would if they had a mortgage. Also, many students are at breaking point amidst the accommodation crisis, choosing to stay in hostels or sleep in cars or even tents rather than face a long commute each day. This is not good enough, especially leading into colder weather. Although a rent-a-room scheme could prove successful, the sharp increase in rents throughout the country reflects a worsening of the unprecedented scarcity of rental homes. The latest figures from daft.ie showcase that the cost of renting in Louth has risen by over 8% in the past year, with average rents now at €1,420. Because Louth is located along the commuter belt, my office has received numerous calls from students near and far from across Ireland in search for accommodation for the upcoming year. This includes students who are hoping to study in Dublin. If they have to commute, they may as well locate themselves closer to their chosen college, in places such as Dundalk and Drogheda.

Additionally, many of my constituents who have been working from home since the pandemic are weighing up their options coming into winter. Many consider it more-----

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