Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important that we will be discussing the upcoming budget. People from Ballinasloe had an opportunity on “Morning Ireland” today to voice their concerns about the cost of living. People spoke about the importance of supports for college students and the challenges posed by rising costs. There was a young man in the solid fuel business who was trying to change his business operation. Representatives from Solid Fuel Merchants Ireland came to Leinster House to meet us.

The Deputy Leader is knowledgeable about the transition period and has fought hard in that respect. The just transition fund, which is being run by Fáilte Ireland, is open now, but it has strict eligibility criteria for the businesses that can apply, in that they must be in tourism, which is important, or hospitality. This is about supporting low-carbon and low-skill activities, for example, certain types of accommodation, but digitalisation funds are also available. Digitalisation is important for all types of business, particularly in those counties impacted. We either need to examine the eligibility criteria or consider what other funds can be used for businesses in impacted areas, for example, Roscommon and the Ballinasloe municipal district in County Galway. We need to ensure that entrepreneurs who are trying to make a change and a difference are supported. Just transition is about leaving no one behind, but that cannot be the case where someone has been left behind.

Others who spoke this morning talked about the impact on farming. Some of them were people from the mart in Ballinasloe. The bad weather has had an impact. We all know how difficult it has been for farmers who are trying to prepare for winter by getting a cut of silage. It has not been an easy time. They also spoke about other challenges like rising costs in fertiliser and so on.

It is crucial that we examine how the budget delivers for people and puts money back into their pockets. That is what this budget has to be about. It has to be about how we support people who face these costs every day. They face them when filling up their cars, going into shops and buying food. The voices that we heard this morning were a flavour of the concerns we hear from people on the ground in towns across Ireland. They want to see supports like those we saw in the previous budget, for example, the expansion of the fuel allowance’s eligibility criteria so that more over-70s could access it and stop being scared about putting the heating on at home over the winter. These are the types of support we need to see in the budget that will be announced next week.