€200 Energy Credit Announced To Ease Cost Of Living

Friday, 11 February 2022 09:12

By Caoimhe Harney

Among other measures.

The Government has announced measures to ease the cost of living, a one-off energy credit will now be 200 euro, those in receipt of the fuel allowance are to get an extra payment of €125 and public transport fares are being cut by 20% until the end of this year.

There's been broad criticism of measures to tackle high living costs announced by Government last night.

The Government insists it had to make universal payments so that the relief's could be made quickly.

The Social Democrats have criticised the package published last night.

The Party says a lot of people will benefit who don't need financial assistance while struggling families are not getting enough.

The Finance Minister's denying that a cut to the Universal Social Charge would have been a better way to help people with higher livings costs.

Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane commented:."In the Government's budget there was not one single cent for renters.

"In our alternative budget we who have put money in the pocket of renters.

"We didn't want the government to implement the carbon tax," he added.

David Cullinane spoke on Friday morning's Kildare Today:

Minister Paschal Donohue says that the abolition of, or a cut to the USC , would not be a wise move:

Party Co-Leader Catherine Murphy says with rising costs in fuel, rents and food, another package will have to be unveiled in the coming months:

Labour TD Aodhán O'Riordáin feels a 'mini-budget' would have been better than last night's cost of living measures:

Social Justice Ireland Economic and Social Analyst Collette Bennett says the increase in the energy credit is not really being doubled:

But Adjunct Professor of Economics at Trinity College John Fitzgerald says the money should have been targetted to those who need it most:

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