Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the context of the provision of the budgetary climate and infrastructure for 2024, the Deputy will be aware that the summer economic statement will shortly be addressed by the Ministers, Deputies Donohoe and McGrath, and that will take place in July, most likely. Over the coming months, in advance of that, the Minister will further consider other budgetary positions, in collaboration with the Minister for Finance. It should be pointed out that, notwithstanding all of the issues the Deputy has raised and in the context of the difficulties that individuals, families and communities were faced with, a number of once-off measures were taken by the Government in the 2023 budget. These include a totality of resources invested over the period of 2022 and 2023 to a significant scale, including the latest package of social protection and education measures of approximately €12 billion and a cost of living package of measures that have been provided for 2022 and 2023 for households and businesses. The spring-summer package announced on 21 February this year will provide €1.3 billion of additional supports for businesses and others for their energy costs and help those on fixed incomes, like pensioners, social welfare recipients, carers and people with disabilities.

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