Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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18. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is actively seeking to give a double payment of social welfare payments to assist with meeting costs, given that inflation is still running at just below 9%, the price of groceries has gone up by 15% and gas bills have gone up by nearly 60%. [6126/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I fully recognise the challenges the increased the cost of living has brought to many people and families. That is why, in September, I announced the largest social protection Budget package in the history of the State - comprising measures worth almost €2.2 billion.

This included eight separate cost of living lump sum payments throughout October, November and December to ease the pressure that many households are facing.

From the start of January, we have seen a wide range of increases come into effect which were announced as part of Budget 2023. This includes a €12 across the board increase to weekly rates – the largest increase to weekly rates since the mid-2000s.

I also announced the largest ever expansion in the Fuel Allowance scheme, and we have seen over 20,000 additional households join this scheme since the Budget.

The ESRI post-Budget analysis shows that Budget 2023, combined with once-off measures to reduce the cost of living, will be effective in protecting most households from rising prices this winter and in fact that lower income households are better off than if they had just received an inflation indexed increase in basic rates.

And further measures are in train - the third energy credit is due in March / April and will deliver an extra €200 to virtually all households in the state.

Also, when including the once-off measures, the ESRI’s December Distributional Analysis shows that the Budget was progressive, helping those in the lower income deciles the most.

Finally, I can assure you that we are keeping the situation under close review on a whole of Government basis and are ready to respond as and when required.