EDITORIAL: Government's cost-of-living measures offer some relief for hard-pressed citizens

The Government's range of cost-of-living measures to combat inflation and exorbitant heating and fuel bills offers some relief for hard-pressed citizens.

They will be particularly welcome for those dependent on social welfare payment such as disability benefit and carers allowance.

But the measures, which were signed off by the Cabinet on Tuesday, can only go so far in tackling the cost-of-living and inflation crisis.

Signs on the horizon that wholesale gas prices have reduced and that inflation is gradually easing may be an indication that the crisis is coming to an end, though not for some time yet.

In extreme cases, families and individuals have been forced to choose between turning on the heating or eating.

Many parents are going without food to ensure that their children and loved ones have enough to eat.

Food banks have popped up all over the country and existing ones are experiencing record levels of demand from the general public

The measures agreed to by the Cabinet this week include a reduced bonus of €100 per child on top of child benefit.

A sum of will be €200 paid to welfare recipients such as pensioners, carers, lone parents, disabled people and others as a once-off bonus as part of the further €1.25 billion in cost-of-living support.

A €100 top up to the back to school allowance has also been secured by the Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys.

In total the social protection element of support contained in the new measures worth a total of around €400m.

However there was disappointment that there was no additional €200 electricity credit as part of the package.

As regards fuel excise cuts to petrol and diesel will be phased out rather than go off a cliff edge at the end of this month.

Petrol will go up by 6c on 1st June, 7c on 1st September and 8c on 31st October. Diesel will go up by 2c per litre on 1st March, 5c on 1st June and again on 1st September, and 6c on 31st October.

The nine per cent VAT rate for hospitality will be extended to the end of August much to the delight of the hospitality sector which has been busy lobbying on the issue.

The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme will be altered, with a new upper limit of €15,000 per month or €45,000 for businesses with multiple presences. Rural businesses who are fuelled by heating oil or bulked natural gas will also be able to apply.

There will also be assistance totalling some €61 million for parents targeted at school transport fees and exam fees in a widening of the package beyond core social protection. The hot school meals programme in primary schools will also be extended.

The Government maintains it is “acutely aware of the impact high prices are having on families, businesses and the most vulnerable”.

Certainly these new cost-of-living measures are very welcome but will more be needed before the crisis abates.