Charitable organisations in Clare are calling on the Government to introduce permanent, targeted measures aimed at offsetting the cost-of-living crisis for low income families.
It’s after the Finance Minister ruled out a spring package this year, saying measures introduced by government to help with high prices in recent years, will need to be tapered off.
Households across the country have seen dramatic increases in their everyday living costs in the last two years, but the Finance Minister has indicated he believes the cost-of-living crisis will ease this year.
Energy prices have fallen, as have prices for other goods and groceries, and tax cuts and welfare increases will kick in this month.
Minister Michael Mc Grath has ruled out a spring cost-of living package, telling the Irish Times that ‘exceptional interventions’ can’t be the norm and can’t be funded indefinitely in a more normal economic environment.
A Clare Food Bank doesn’t believe there’s any evidence of the economic environment returning to normal on the ground here though.
Feed Clare has been providing assistance to around 80 families in this county every week over the past year and volunteer Valery O’Callaghan expects that number to continue to rise.
The Clare branch of St Vincent De Paul received 5,000 requests from struggling families and individuals last year, almost double pre-pandemic figures.
The charitable organisation’s President has acknowledged commentary that inflation appears to be easing, but insists the reduction in energy prices in particular goes nowhere near addressing increased costs over the past two years.
Denis Carty says one off measures have been helpful, but now is the time for Government to deliver permanent measures, particularly around income.
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