Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is not fair to say that the Government has not acted to help households and families with the rising cost of living. As recently as January, all the budget measures kicked in such as lower income taxes and increases in the minimum wage, the pension, weekly welfare payments, and the fuel allowance.

In spring, the Government intervened again by reducing excise on petrol and diesel, by 20 cent and 15 cent, and reducing the cost of green diesel. We reduced VAT on electricity and gas to 9%, the lowest ever rate. We gave households €200 off their electricity bill. There was also a bullet payment of the fuel allowance.

In the summer, the Government intervened again by providing increases in the student universal support Ireland, SUSI, grant for students. There was an increase in the back to school clothing and footwear allowance for those who needed it most. A public sector pay deal was agreed in recent weeks, which is about to be voted on. The increase to the national minimum wage, which was announced yesterday, is worth €1,600 per year to a person working full time on low pay.

We will take further action in the budget which will take the form of increased welfare and pension payments. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is examining what we can do on the fuel allowance, in particular making it available to more people. There will be a tax package meaning working people will be able to keep more of the money they earn. There will be actions to help people with energy bills in particular. What is seen from the Government is a dynamic and evolving response to what is a rapidly changing situation. That will have to continue to be the case because we do not know how high bills will go or for how long this will go on. The response is not a blank cheque. The right response would not be a blank cheque. It is dynamic response, responding to the situation as it develops and emerges.

As the Deputy knows carbon tax is not a budget measure. It has already been legislated for and the funding from it is ring-fenced for climate action, green farming, retrofitting, and many other things.

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