Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. In recognition of the effect that high energy prices and the cost of living are having on families, businesses and the most vulnerable, the Government last week announced a package of measures amounting to almost €1.3 billion, almost €500 million of which relates to expenditure measures to help people on fixed incomes like pensioners and social protection recipients, including carers and people with disabilities.

The package provides a €200 lump sum for long-term social welfare recipients, which refers to lone parents, low-income families, carers, those on disability payments and pensioners. The measures also provide targeted support to families with children through a one-off lump sum of €100 in child benefit per child and a one-off €100 increase in the back to school clothing and footwear allowance. Additionally, this package provides reduced charges for school transport, waives the fees for those sitting the junior and leaving certificate and extends the hot school meals programme to all DEIS primary schools.

These measures have to be seen in light of the broader measures announced in the budget last year and ongoing measures that remain in place. They include the €200 lump sum I referred to, which will be paid in April, and many changes that will happen and will be permanent. Changes have been made to tax bands to ensure anybody earning €40,000 per year no longer pays the higher rate of income tax. Changes are being made in childcare fees aiming to put in place reductions of up to a quarter for families dealing with the high cost of childcare. Changes have been made to the eligibility for fuel allowance. Core social welfare rates have been increased.

While, understandably, the focus of the Dáil is on the temporary and one-off measures raised last week, those measures I referred to are permanent and we aim to build on them in the budgets ahead. All are designed to help with the rising cost of living, which we know is making a big difference to the living standards of families and citizens.

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