Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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547. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current definition of the minimum essential standard of living in Ireland. [11534/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) is an assessment, developed through research by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice (VPSJ), of the minimum income needed to live and partake in the social and economic norms of everyday life for various household types.

According to the VPSJ, it is a standard of living which meets an individual's / household's physical, psychological and social needs, calculated by identifying the goods and services required by different household types in order to meet these minimum needs. The costs incorporate factors such as food, clothing, personal care, health, household goods, household services, communications, social inclusion, education, fuel, transport, personal costs, insurance, savings and contingencies.

More detail on the Minimum Essential Standard of Living can be found on budgeting.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.