Meaningful Christmas escaping many households
Meaningful Christmas escaping many households - The Labour Party
Labour’s social protection spokesperson Mark Wall TD has expressed his concern at the lack of meaningful supports for families this Christmas.
As the Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index reveals major money worries in households, Deputy Wall said hard working people have been left to fend for themselves by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
Deputy Wall said:
“The facts speak for themselves. The Labour Party has repeatedly tried to get this Government to listen to the fact that enormous price gouging is taking place in the food sector. But it’s not just us. Food inflation has soared another 6.5% in the year, energy bills in Ireland are 30% higher than the EU average, over 300,000 households are in arrears on their energy bills, and today we will learn how many people and children are living in homelessness across this State.
“The end of one-off payments like the energy credit has left far too many homes vulnerable this Christmas. In the run up to Budget 2026, the Labour Party implored with the Government to introduce a new, targeted child income support payment, as well as targeted energy payments and an increase in the fuel allowance payment to protect families on the hard edge of the permanent cost of living crisis.
“Indeed, in a Budget of €9.4 billion, it is incredible that no discrete cost of living supports were included. Working people have been left worse off and there has been no targeted supports for the homes that are really struggling. A year out from a General Election, the gap has widened between people’s lived realities and what Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil seem to deem an ‘acceptable’ level of poverty.
“That is the situation before we even mention the enormous cost of housing, the second mortgage that is paying for childcare, the dearth of public transport options across the country and the enormous gaps in our health system.
“All the research shows that more people have less money to spend this Christmas. People will cut back on socialising, on Christmas presents, and according to the Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index, 9% say they will be borrowing money to get through this Christmas. It’s no way to live. We need to see action from this Government – to take on the large retailers that are perpetuating the price gouging, and to address the cost of living crisis that is biting in people’s pockets.”