Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 April 2022
107. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount he has allocated in expenditure measures to ease cost of living pressures since and including budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20514/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSignificant resources have been allocated by Government in Budget 2022 and subsequently to help households that may be experiencing difficulties as a result of rising prices.
In Budget 2022, a range of measures to support citizens were introduced with a value of almost €1.2 billion. This included a Social Protection package of an additional €558 million which, among other measures, provided for increases of €5 per week in weekly Social Welfare payments and of €5 in the weekly rate of fuel allowance.
Budget 2022 also saw the introduction of a range of other measures which will provide assistance with costs of living, including:
- Youth travel cards to provide discounted fares for people aged 19-23;
- A range of affordability measures in health including a lowering of the threshold for the Drug Payment Scheme, free GP care for children aged six and seven, and measures to reduce the financial burden of hospital charges for children under 18;
- A new funding stream that will be open to Childcare providers in return for a commitment that parents’ fees will not increase;
- Additional support for students under the Student Grant Scheme; and
- Further investment in social housing.
Since Budget 2022 in October however, consumer price inflation has increased, with higher energy prices and supply chain issues being reflected in rising costs for households and businesses. Government is acutely aware of the difficulties this poses for some households, particularly those at lower incomes. In recognition of this, a number of expenditure measures have been introduced since Budget day, targeted at mitigating the impact of these pressures.
In February a package of over half a billion euro was announced, designed to provide timely assistance with the immediate challenges that households are facing with energy costs. The main measure under this package is the Energy Credit of €200, inclusive of VAT, per domestic account with further targeted measures in respect of fuel allowance, school transport, drugs payment scheme, public transport and the Working Family Payment also prioritised.
Subsequent to this, in light of the continued high fuel prices, an emergency support measure for licensed hauliers was introduced which will provide a payment of €100 per week for every heavy goods vehicle listed on a road haulage operator’s licence at a cost of €18 million for eight weeks. Most recently, at the beginning of this month a further Fuel Allowance lump sum payment of €100 was announced at an estimated €37 million cost. These bring the total post-Budget 2022 expenditure measures to ease pressures arising from inflation to almost €0.6 billion.
