Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The cost of living is putting enormous pressure on households. A report by Barnardos published this morning highlights the sharp impact on families and children. Nearly half of parents say they or their children have gone without or cut back on the basics over the past six months. This includes food, clothes, medicine, electricity and heat. Some 47% of parents say they are forced to cut back on social activities for their kids. The vast majority of those surveyed say they worry about not being able to provide the daily essentials for their children. These are the stories I hear from families as I canvass around the country. Speaking on radio this morning, Barnardos CEO Suzanne Connolly captured the real stress and worry for parents, saying:

Can you imagine what it is like living in a household where you are having to make those type of choices about whether to have the heating on or to have variety in your diet in terms of food? Can you imagine what it is like for parents having to say to children, 'We cannot do what your friends are doing ... we cannot afford it'?

That is the reality for so many workers and families. For many of them, the cost of living has never been higher and getting by has never been more difficult than under this Government. People are paying hand over fist for sky-high energy bills, housing costs, food, insurance - everything - while big, super-rich companies make record profits and the Government stands idly by, allowing rip-offs to happen. People who work very hard to provide for their families are being squeezed every single day.

Having failed to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, the Taoiseach is now talking a big game nine days out from an election. He sat at the Cabinet table as the Government chose not to introduce permanent supports for struggling families, which would have made a long-term difference. He was there as the Government chose not to increase the core rate of child benefit or the qualified child payments to the levels needed. Last month, the Government chose to increase the price of petrol and diesel and it has proposed to do so twice more once these elections have passed. Despite the Taoiseach's stated concern and instead of making every effort to reduce costs for households, he proposes to increase them. He will forgive many for not believing his big talk on the eve of an election.

Tá géarchéim an chostais maireachtála fós ag cur brú ollmhór ar theaghlaigh. Tá an Taoiseach ag caint ar chluiche mór naoi lá amuigh ón toghchán. Ní mór anois aige ach fáil réidh leis na hardaithe peitril agus díosail atá pleanáilte.

If the Taoiseach is genuinely concerned about struggling families, why would he make them struggle more? He must know that raising the cost of petrol and diesel again and again will hurt these families, so he should not do it. If he is serious about tackling the cost of living, he should start by scrapping plans to hike the price of petrol and diesel in August and October.

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