Leo Varadkar has outlined the supports his party are calling for to ease high bills in the coming months.
The Tanaiste said the “biggest issue” that people ask him about is the cost of living crisis.
Ahead of Fine Gael’s meeting in Kilkenny today, Leo Varadkar has outlined a number of measures the party are considering to help with the rising cost of living.
Today’s meeting will be all about “setting the negotiating mandate for ministers going into the budget”, Varadkar said.
In a bid to reduce the impact of the cost of living crisis on households and businesses alike, the Tanaiste outlined three elements the party wants to see implemented.
The first of which is help with energy bills. This is to prevent businesses from having to let staff go in a bid to cope with costs, and to prevent people from “falling into poverty”.
The second is an income tax package to help working people. He said: “So, you get to keep more of the money you earned. People are getting pay rises this year - most people will, thankfully. We don't want them losing more than half of that in income tax.”
Finally, Varadkar said the party are calling for “targeted help for pensioners, for carers, people with disabilities” and other vulnerable groups.
When asked about whether people can expect additional one-off payments to help with energy bills, Varadkar said a package is being prepared from “a surplus”.
“What we're working on is a one-off budget package for this year, a multibillion-euro package paid for out of a surplus,” he told RTE’s Morning Ireland.
“This is very clear to me that there will have to be action next year as well as this year. You know how the [energy] bill cycle works, everyone gets a bill every two months. It’s important that we help people throughout next year as well,” he said.
Varadkar also paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on the RTE radio show, describing her passing as “the end of an era”.
READ NEXT:
- Love Island stars a month on - breakups, cheating accusations and the couple proving everyone wrong
- Hurricane Danielle takes 'unexpected turn' as Irish weather forecast predicts if it will hit us
- Charlie Bird thanks strangers who comforted him in Dunnes Stores after 'awful crying moment'
- Dublin-based work syndicate collects big EuroMillions prize and lists spending plans
- Family of six reveal how they have saved €115,000 and holiday for free
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
