Budget cost-of-living supports
Deputy Kelly asks directly whether there will be any one-off cost-of-living measures in the coming budget. The Minister says no budget decisions have been made, the budget must become more normal in scale, and further measures will be limited.
I recently met MABS and was taken aback by the range of issues people had. I have listened attentively to what the Minister said today about cost-of-living measures. I acknowledge those actions. In the past three years, however, there have been a range of one-off cost-of-living measures in budgets, which have been welcomed. I want to get all the nonsense out of the way and ask definitively if the Minister for Finance is saying there will be no one-off cost-of-living measures in this year's budget. There will be nothing for people with disabilities as there was in the past, or the fuel allowance for older people, double child benefit for families or energy credits for households, etc. Will the Minister confirm to the House, because there has been so much speculation and narrative, that there will not be any of these? There may be other long-term measures, but there will not be one-off cost-of-living measures in the budget.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for the manner in which he has raised this matter. I am also aware of the issues he refers to and the views of MABS. The issues he raises are really serious for so many citizens in our country.
First, no budget decisions have been made. We are here at the start of July. The budget will happen in October. In between July and October, various other measures I have outlined to the House will be implemented to help with the cost of living.
Second, and generally, this budget will have to move to a more normal budget in terms of scale and measures. Third, what that means is we want to move back to where we have been at other points where measures were in place that could help our country with all the other needs there. However, these measures were permanent, different in scale and were ones we could build upon. I know the cost of living is an issue for so many at the moment, but we are in a place where the really big increase in prices we saw over two years in particular has begun to change and slow down. We have to recognise that in the decisions we make, and we are well aware of the important issues the Deputy has raised.