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

I thank Deputy Dillon for raising this question. Budget 2023 contains a significant response to support households, public and community services and businesses, with spending measures of some €4.5 billion in aggregate. The Government announced a €2.2 billion winter cost-of-living package for households, including a double week of social welfare schemes in October, a fuel allowance lump sum of €400, a once-off payment of €500 to those in receipt of carer's support grant and to people on disability allowance, blind pension and invalidity pension, a €200 living alone allowance lump sum, a €500 working family payment lump sum, a double child benefit payment, a once-off reduction in the student contribution fee by €1,000 for undergraduates and one third for apprentices, a €1,000 increase to the postgraduate tuition fee contribution grant, double payments to those eligible for Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, maintenance grants, a once-off payment of €500 for Science Foundation Ireland, SFI, and Irish Research Council, IRC, PhD researchers, €8 million for the Student Assistance Fund, and three €200 electricity credits, with two instalments in the new year. In addition, a Christmas bonus will also be paid to eligible social protection recipients in December.

Budget 2023 also includes new core permanent spending measures, focusing on the cost of living, with an estimated value of €1.3 billion, including a €12 weekly social protection rates increase for working age and pension payments and an increase in the universal subsidy on the national childcare scheme.

In recognition of the unprecedented rise in energy bills, the Government is also making available €340 million this year to provide further support to public and community services. In addition, to support businesses, Government is introducing a €200 million Ukraine emergency response scheme to be administered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

While the supports provided are substantial, the Government cannot protect all households and businesses against the full effects of inflation as to do so would lead to further inflationary pressures.

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