Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)

As the Deputy articulated, this is a commitment across the lifetime of Government in terms of the delivery of the €200 cost. We have maintained the fee freeze at 2021 levels. Those paying who were paying the highest costs at €295 are now paying less than €200 when the subsidies are included. There is more work to be done in that space. It will be over the lifetime of the Government that we will reach the target of the €200. On the challenges in cost of living, I feel they are across the country. It is a difficult thing to say the cost-of-living challenges are greater in one party of the country than in another, notwithstanding the fact there can be nuances in different areas. I am happy to speak to the Deputy about that at another time. I would be challenged in terms of the understanding around that but I am happy to discuss it with him on another occasion.

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