Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

We did take very significant measures in the budget to support families, particularly working families and families on low incomes. The Deputy has failed to acknowledge that in all her commentary. The child support payment had a permanent increase of over €16 for those over 12 and a permanent increase of €8 for children under 12. The extension of the fuel allowance to the working family payment means 26% of all households are now entitled to a fuel allowance. We have already brought in the free schoolbooks scheme and free hot school meals, all of which are significant factors in reducing pressures on families. We acknowledge that food prices are going up and that is significant. Energy remains an issue and we are engaging with the companies. There is a regulator there as well to make sure that price gouging does not happen and that competition applies.

I saw Sinn Féin's budget proposals. They would have added 2% to the cost of living.

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