Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have emerged from almost two years of lockdown where at each step of the way the Government protected jobs and income through the pandemic unemployment payment and the employment wage subsidy scheme. While there has been a strong return, there are shortages in respect of staff and skills, and challenges regarding the ramping up of supply chains to pre-Covid levels. We are also now in the middle of a global energy crisis. We need to act now. We in Fine Gael favour an approach to benefit all households, including those on low incomes and the squeezed middle. Many families are struggling with huge energy bills, childcare costs, mortgages and high rent. This high rate of inflation is having a significant impact on family income and we have to examine ways to put money back into people's pockets.

We see the effects each time we fill our cars with diesel or do the weekly shop, or when we pay to heat the house. We all see the impact and hear about it every week. Additional measures are needed. The fuel allowance scheme was increased as part of the budget by €5 a head, and we need to bring forward the schemes that were agreed in the budget to support people. The increase to the working family payment is due to take effect in June but it has to happen sooner.

A rebate on electricity costs is being considered. There are many such ways in which we need to make savings to show people we are there to support them. If people are working from home, they can claim 30% of the costs of heat, light and broadband, and we have heard about the new national retrofit programme, which will soon be launched. It will ensure people have an opportunity to retrofit their homes but we need to see benefits and funds for people now. It has to happen now, not in six months when they eventually get people in to retrofit their houses.

The cost-of-living issue has been discussed by the coalition leaders at their weekly meetings for several weeks and record inflation rates are being experienced throughout the eurozone. The Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform have been commissioned to develop a package of measures and the Minister for Social Protection is examining what can be done in respect of social welfare. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste discussed the fast-rising cost of living at the labour employer economic forum yesterday and there will be further discussions this week. We need to recognise that dealing with fuel and electricity costs is a matter not just for families but for small businesses as well, which need to stay competitive. We need to see action now.