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Govt to keep cost-of-living payments under review – McGrath
The Government will keep the payments to help people deal with the escalating cost of living under review, Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath has said.
“We will consider the circumstances that we face as we go through next year. We are seeing the economic winds change there is a certain amount uncertainty,” he said at a press briefing after a Cabinet meeting.
“We are seeing changes in monetary policy level which inevitably have an impact.”
He said it was “too early” to make forecasts regarding what the Government would do.
He was speaking as the Government confirmed four cost-of-living lump sum supports, which will be paid this week.
The payments include €400 fuel allowance lump sum payment, €500 cost-of-living payment to those in receipt of working family payment, €500 disability support grant and €200 payment to those in receipt of living alone allowance.
At a press conference, Mr McGrath also paid tribute to Vicky Phelan’s refusal to sign a non-disclosure agreement and said he was “not a fan” of such agreements.
During today’s Cabinet meeting, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys briefed ministers on the payment dates for the lump sum cost-of-living measures, which were announced in Budget 2023.
Separately, Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has said that nearly 4,000 construction industry apprentices have registered so far this year.
He is expected to update his Cabinet colleagues that the Government is on track to meet targets set out in the Housing For All plan.
It is understood 2,101 apprentices registered on electrical, 664 on plumbing and 587 on carpentry and joinery programmes.
The minister is expected bring a memo to Government shortly on long-term plans to meet the Housing for All targets between now and 2030.
Article Source: Govt to keep cost-of-living payments under review – McGrath – David Murphy – RTE
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