Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Cost of Living Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 April 2022

Thursday, 28 April 2022

Ceisteanna (113)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

113. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the additional measures he will take to reduce the cost of living for workers and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20852/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Government has introduced a number of measures in recent months to provide assistance in relation to cost of living pressures. Temporary measures have been designed  to provide swift assistance, targeted at the main underlying problem of higher energy prices and to provide additional assistance to those most vulnerable, while being mindful of the need to avoid actions that could worsen the current challenges, by resulting in increased inflation.

 Building on the measures introduced in Budget 2022, a cost of living package was announced in February which, combined with the earlier Energy Credit announcement, had a value of over half a billion euro. This comprised:

- A lump sum payment of €125 to recipients of Fuel Allowance to be paid in March; 

- An increase in the Energy Credit payment announced in December from €100 exclusive of VAT to €200 inclusive of VAT;

- Applying the Budget 2022 increase of €10 in the weekly income threshold for the Working Family Payment from April rather than June;

- Further reducing the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold to €80 per month, having been reduced to €100 per month in Budget 2022;

- Reducing the maximum annual School Transport charge to €150 per family at primary level and €500 per family at post-primary level for the next academic year;

- A 20% reduction in PSO Public Transport fares until the end of 2022, from May in the Greater Dublin Area and April in other areas. 

 Additional measures of a temporary payment of €100 per week, for an eight week period, for every heavy goods vehicle for licensed hauliers and a further Fuel Allowance lump sum payment of €100 have since also been announced.

Across the euro area and other advanced economies, a rise in prices has been experienced since the second half of 2021 as a result of energy price increases, supply chain disruption and supply and demand mismatches. This is a global problem and while Government cannot fully insulate all from its impact, we have committed significant resources to assist those who may be struggling with the increased cost of living.  

It is important that assistance measures for the challenge posed by rising prices are balanced against the need to ensure that our public finances return to a sustainable position, which will allow us deliver improvements in key public services and infrastructure into the future.

Barr
Roinn