OPINION: Continuing rise in food prices putting huge strain on families

LATEST figures from the Central Statistics Office released on Monday show the rate of inflation for August to be higher than experts predicted.

The figures also show that the price of food had increased by a whopping five per cent in the past 12 months,

Much of the reason for the inflation hike is the continuing relentless rise in the cost of food which is placing huge strain in families across the region and the country.

Anthony Dawson, Statistician in the CSO Prices Division, commented that the estimates indicate that prices for consumer goods and services in Ireland have increased by 1.8% in the past year while food prices are estimated to have increased by 0.4% in the last month and by 5.0% in the last 12 months."

The CSO inflation figures were not all bad news as they showed transport and energy prices fell slightly over the past 12 months.

In a statement issued this week, Offaly Dail Deputy Carol Nolan said the relentless rise in food prices was a "real cause of alarm".

The Kinnitty based Independent TD rightly commented that the hike in food prices is a “frightening insight into the crippling financial burden that hundreds of thousands of families are now facing on a daily basis.”

“It is now absolutely clear that the price of food is simply becoming unsustainable for far too many families. This has gone beyond cutting back on certain items; it is now a full-blown crisis that government must respond too with unrelenting determination, especially around the energy cost side of things which we know is what is driving a lot of these increases.”

“We also must avoid scapegoating farmers and food producers who for too long have been on the receiving end of price manipulation and cartel like monopoly behaviour from the factories.”

Deputy Nolan said current levels of increase cannot go on.

"The cost of food on the shelves is just ridiculous. Something has to give before families and children and those on fixed low incomes such as pensioners or carers are driven to new depths of food poverty and food insecurity,” she added.

READ NEXT: Country music superstar to launch nationwide tour in Offaly this September

Meanwhile, the St Vincent de Paul (SVP), - highlighting another cost of living issue this week – revealed it has received almost 3,500 calls for help with back-to-school costs this year, as parents looked for support with expensive uniforms, voluntary contributions, school administration fees, electronic devices, mock exams and Transition Year charges.

From 2023 to 2024, SVP recorded a notable 26% reduction in calls during the back-to-school period, largely due to the introduction of free school books for primary and post-primary pupils. This year, despite the scheme being extended to senior cycle students, the charity has seen just a 3% decrease in calls as families struggle to meet other education costs.

“While free books are a welcome step, the reality is that education in Ireland is still far from free,” said Niamh Dalziel, Research & Policy Officer with SVP. “Parents are cutting back on essentials or going into debt to meet school costs. Chronic underfunding forces schools to rely on families, creating a system that is deeply unequal.”

The Society is urging Government to address the underlying funding gaps in education through Budget 2026. The charity’s key recommendation to improve educational equity, as set out in the Delivering an Equal and Inclusive Budget submission, include:

· Removal of mock exam and correction fees.

· Provision of funding support for electronic devices in schools where they are mandatory.

· Increase of the capitation grant by 25%, with a higher rate of 30% made available to schools that implement the Department of Education’s guidance on affordable school uniforms.

“An inclusive education system removes financial barriers and stigma, and gives every child the chance to thrive,” said Ms Dalziel.

“Budget 2026 is an opportunity to make free education in Ireland a reality.”

The Budget will also allow Government a chance to tackle rises in the cost of living though they have ruled out once-off measures which we have become accustomed to over recent years.

READ NEXT: CALL OUT: People asked to share memories ahead of Tullamore Bridge Centre's anniversary