Opposition slams lack of cost of living payments

THE Government has been accused of abandoning the most vulnerable after announcing a budget with no energy credits or one-off cost of living payments.

- KEITH FALKINER REPORTS

Despite an overall increase of €2billion in the Social Protection Budget, opposition TDs say it doesn't go far enough to tackle the ongoing cost of living crisis.

With no blanket energy credits like previous years, the Government has instead vowed to take a more targeted approach by extending the fuel allowance to more people on social welfare payments.

It means that the weekly fuel allowance rate will go up by €5 and has been extended to those eligible for the working family payment.

Meanwhile, the Government has announced a weekly increase of €10 per person in a range of social protection payments from 2026, including the State pension, disability allowance, carer's allowance, jobseeker's allowance and one-parent family payment.

And the Government has confirmed a "permanent" €500 cut to third-level student fees as part of Budget 2026, the first longlasting reduction in college costs in decades.

From January 1, the annual student contribution fee will fall from €3,000 to €2,500, applying to the current academic year for all eligible students.

The move replaces last year's temporary cost of living reduction of €1,000, which ministers had indicated would not be repeated.