Irish people left ‘high and dry’ in cost of living crisis – Sinn Féin
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA
The State has “never been better off” but people are being left “high and dry” by soaring prices, Sinn Féin has said.
TD Pearse Doherty challenged the Government in the Dáil to bring forward a cost-of-living package in October’s budget.
However, Tánaiste Simon Harris said he wanted to push back on the narrative that the Government is “sitting back”, insisting it was delivering assistance to people now.
Mr Doherty returned to the theme of the cost of living crisis during Leaders’ questions.
He said Sinn Féin had commissioned an online survey about rising prices and had received thousands of responses.
He said: “The results mirror what we are hearing every single day, the price of everything is going through the roof and people are finding it harder and harder just to keep their heads above water.”
Mr Doherty said the issue which was putting households under most pressure was the rising cost of food.
He said: “It is a nightmare for folks out there. They can’t believe their ears when they hear to likes of yourself stand up, or your partners in Government and say that you are not going to do anything for them, you are not going to bring forward a cost of living package in this year’s budget.
“The state has never been better off but the hard working people who made that happen have been left high and dry.
“How is that fair? You say your Government is aware of what people are going through, but then you do nothing, then you rule out a cost of living package.
“You can’t keep patting yourself on the back for the things the government did last year or the year before, people are under pressure in the here and now.
“They need help now.”
Mr Doherty added: “I am asking you Tánaiste, I am pleading with you to change your mind.
“I am asking the Government to do its job and bring forward a package of support that will provide relief for these households.
“You need to bring a cost of living package forward without delay.”
Mr Harris said it was true that people in Ireland are finding the cost of living “a very significant issue”.
He added: “Where I do want to be very clear, the Government is taking action in the here and now in a whole variety of areas.”
He referenced a number of initiatives including increased support for carers, a back to school clothing and footwear allowance, an increase in people qualifying for fuel allowance, public sector pay increases, the free schoolbook scheme extending to secondary schools, the rollout of a summer meals programme and a fall in childcare costs.
The Tánaiste said: “I don’t think it is right or proper to get into some sort of branding exercise, is there going to be a cost of living package, there are going to be measures in the budget to help people with their cost of living.”
He added: “I push back very strongly against the narrative that anyone in Government is saying sit back and wait many months.
“I have given you examples in the here and now where we are already helping people and we want to build on that further.
“We have gone through a big inflation crisis, probably the biggest since the 1970s, but I also accept there is a very significant time-lag in many areas between inflation falling and consumer citizens seeing any benefit in terms of their bills.”
