Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The total value of the new cost-of-living measures for households is €2.2 billion and will provide much needed help to individuals and families. This package of measures has been designed to help alleviate the financial burden faced by all households, but in particular to provide extra assistance to those who need it the most.

SUPPORTS FOR PUBLIC SERVICES AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

In addition to the need to provide cash support for households, I am also acutely conscious of the pressure that rising prices, especially energy costs, are putting on the delivery of vital public services. Therefore, I am allocating additional funds this year across a number of different areas in order to ensure continuity of service delivery. I am making €100 million available in 2022 to ensure schools are supported in dealing with the energy cost pressures they will face in the months ahead and to support school transport providers. An additional €10 million will also be provided for further and higher education institutions. I am allocating €60 million this year to local authorities and €110 million to a range of health-funded bodies, including nursing homes, hospices and section 39 organisations. This additional funding for the health sector will provide further once-off support in the coming months, this year, for organisations that deliver important services across areas such as disabilities, older persons and mental health, in the context of the significant challenges being faced currently.

Not-for-profit and voluntary organisations in the arts, sport, Gaeltacht and the community and voluntary sectors are woven into the fabric of community life across Ireland, but they are very vulnerable to the severe impact of increased energy bills. I am making €60 million available in 2022 to ease the pressures in these sectors. The framework for this assistance will be put in place in the next few weeks to ensure that they benefit this year.

SOCIAL PROTECTION

In addition to the measures I have already outlined for the remainder of 2022, I am also providing significant support throughout 2023 through the social welfare system. It is appropriate that we target our resources most strongly to those who need it the most. To that end, I am pleased to announce a social protection package for 2023 worth €1 billion to support households and families across Ireland. For an individual in receipt of a weekly social protection payment, I am providing for an increase of €12 per week with proportionate increases for qualified adults. Recognising the pressures on working families, I am increasing the working family payment thresholds by €40 per week. To further support families through this time, I am raising the qualified child increase for under 12s to €42 per week and for over 12s to €50 per week.

The fuel allowance, as we all know, is a very effective means of targeting support at people who need help with energy bills. We have made significant additional payments to people in receipt of the allowance this year and I believe it is important that we extend the allowance to other vulnerable households. From 1 January, the qualifying income threshold for the fuel allowance will increase from €120 to €200-----

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