Written answers
Wednesday, 5 October 2022
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Cost of Living Issues
Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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133. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of all the one-off cost of living measures announced as part of the €4.1 billion package; the estimated cost of each measure and the measures which will arise in 2022 or 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49027/22]
Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The expenditure side measures announced as part of the €4.1 billion winter cost of living package amount to €2.4 billion. Tax side measures make up the remaining €1.7 billion.
This €2.4 billion expenditure figure comprises a package of €2.2 billion in measures to support households, which is set out in Table 5 of the Expenditure Report, and €0.2 billion in supports for business through the Ukraine Emergency Response Scheme to be administered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. These are also set out in tabular form below. These are measures that provide targeted support, towards the causes of our current inflation and to those particularly vulnerable, and that can be delivered quickly to provide timely assistance to those who might be struggling.
| Household Package Measure | Monetary Benefit (€) | Exchequer Cost (€m) | Benefit Received | Recipients (Unless Stated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity Credit 1 | 200 | 400 | November 2022 | All Households |
| Electricity Credit 2 | 200 | 400 | Jan/Feb 2023 | All Households |
| Electricity Credit 3 | 200 | 400 | March/Apr 2023 | All Households |
| Weekly Welfare Schemes double week | Various | 316 | October 2022 | 1.4 – 1.5 million |
| Fuel Allowance Lump Sum | 400 | 149 | November 2022 | c.370k |
| Once-off payment of €500 to those in receipt of the Carer's Support Grant and to people on Disability Allowance, Blind Pension & Invalidity Pension | 500 | 175 | November 2022 | c.350k |
| Living Alone Allowance Lump Sum | 200 | 46 | November 2022 | c.230k |
| Working Family Payment Lump Sum | 500 | 23 | November 2022 | c. 47k |
| Child Benefit Double Payment (per child) | 140 | 170 | November 2022 | c.640k families relating to c.1.2 million children |
| Once off reduction in the student contribution fee by €1,000 for undergrads and 1/3 for Apprentices; €1,000 increase to post-graduates tuition fee contribution grant | 1,000 (1/3 for apprentices) | 106 | Q4 2022 | c.96k undergrads, 2.4k post grads in receipt of SUSI and circa 10k apprentices |
| Double payments to those eligible for SUSI maintenance grants and once off payment of €500 for SFI and IRC PhD researchers | Various | 19 | Q4 2022 | 50k SUSI recipients, and 4k PhD students |
| Student Assistance Fund | Various | 8 | Q4 2022 | Determined by Higher Education Institutions |
| Total Household Cost of Living Package | 2,212 | |||
| Enterprise Measure | Exchequer Cost (€m) | Intended Recipients | ||
| Ukraine Emergency Response Scheme | 200 | Firms faced with liquidity shortages as a result of increased energy costs | ||
| Net Total Expenditure Once-Off Cost of Living Package Measures within the €4.1 billion figure | 2,412 |
In addition to these €2.4 billion worth of measures, €0.3 billion in funding will be provided from remaining unallocated amount in the contingency reserve to provide support for other sectors and services. Funding will be provided to Local Authorities; Schools; the Further and Higher Education sector; Health funded bodies; and the cultural, sports, community and voluntary sector. These allocations are set out in Table 7 of the Expenditure Report. Separately, a Christmas Bonus will be paid to eligible social protection payment recipients in December, also funded from expected savings.
The Exchequer cost for all these items will arise in 2022. Households will continue to see a benefit on electricity bills into 2023 as Electricity Credits totalling €400 will be applied in the new year against winter bills.
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