Labour calls for radical reset in Budget 2026 following Barnardo’s cost of living report
Labour calls for radical reset in Budget 2026 following Barnardo’s cost of living report - The Labour Party
Labour Party spokesperson on social protection and Kildare South TD Mark Wall has today called for a radical reset in Budget 2026.
Deputy Wall made the calls following findings from Barnardo’s which showed 40% of parents borrowed money to help pay for essentials for their children, while lone parents were disproportionately more likely to cut back on essentials.
Deputy Wall said:
“The findings from Barnardo’s paints a stark picture of the ongoing impact the cost of living is having on families, in particular lone parents and young families. We are now seeing parents having to go hungry just so that their child is fed, households are going without heating their homes or borrowing money just to keep the house warm and the lights on.
“Budget 2026 must be a cost of living budget. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have cannot return a ‘Late Late Show’ style-budget of previous years. We need real and meaningful measures that will help support parents who are struggling with the cost of living and lift low-income households and children out of poverty.
“The Labour Party are already preparing our alternative budget in which we will present a vision for a New Republic. We want to see a radical reset in Ireland’s social protection system, towards having a minimum essential standard of living, addressing child poverty, helping working families and lone parents with the cost of living.”