If the “top people” in Irish life were in crisis, the government would provide help “in a flash”, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said.
McDonald’s challenged the government’s insistence that there will be no more direct aid for people struggling with rising prices and rising poverty until the budget in early October.
Sinn Féin’s leader said many ordinary people, dependent on benefits or low-paid work, are now in serious trouble. She said families would have to face school bills again in September and that utility companies would not delay their bills until October either.
“There are people listening today who are just one bill away from crossing the brink,” Ms McDonald added.
“An emergency budget is needed at this point,” she argued. She added that rents should be reduced and wealth increased.
“If it were people at the top who needed a bailout, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael would be there in the blink of an eye,” added the Sinn Féin leader. She said the government’s message to people at the bottom of society was “bad luck”.
Responding on behalf of the government, Minister Michael McGrath says Sinn Féin does not have a monopoly on contact with people who are struggling.
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He said the government had already taken exceptional measures to deal with an exceptional 40-year rise in inflation and that money needed to be raised to continue financing these measures.
The Fianna Fáil TD said the government would publish the Summer Economic Statement next week, outlining how much money is available to help people struggling with the rising cost of living.
He said it made sense to maintain special measures until Budget Day and let them incur additional winter costs such as heating.
Mr McGrath said the budget will have “a significant welfare package”; continue to invest in housing and finance health care; fund a Mica restoration program; fund mother and baby home allowance; and provide support to Ukrainian war refugees.
But the Public Expenditure Minister said it was “not all doom and gloom” as growth and inward investment continued to do well. He said that if the government accepted Sinn Féin’s advice last fall, there would be €3.5 billion less to fund such demands.
“We have to meet all these competing demands and there will be a major budget intervention in the fall,” said Mr McGrath.