Donegal TD Pearse Doherty is pushing for a new Cost of Living Cash Payment to help workers and families with the increasing cost of living.
The payment would amount to €200 support for people earning under €30,000 and €100 for those earning between €30,000 to €60,000. This, along with electricity credit and rent relief, could save people almost €2,000.
Teachta Doherty, who is Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Finance, said: “For months now, we in Sinn Féin have been warning the government about the increasing cost of living.
“Instead of taking decisive action, the government have put their head in the sand and have allowed rents, childcare costs and energy costs to spiral out of control.
“They just don’t get it. They don’t understand the pressure that workers and families, who need action now, are under.
“The €100 electricity credit per household is better than nothing, but it is simply not enough to meet the challenge that households are facing.”
Doherty said his party is proposing a package of measures to get money back into people’s pockets now when they need it.
“A Sinn Féin government would make direct Cost of Living Cash Payments to support workers and families; in addition to making the already announced €100 electricity credit available,” he said.
“An individual on an income of up to €30,000 would receive a Cost of Living Cash Payment of €200, and an individual on income of between €30,000 to €60,000 would receive a Cost of Living Cash Payment of €100.
“This payment – along with our proposal to put a month’s rent back in people’s pockets and axe the Carbon Tax hike due in May – would give hard pressed workers and families the break they so badly need.”
