Cost of living budget will help families, most vulnerable and squeezed middle - O'Reilly

Cavan Senator Joe O'Reilly has welcomed the measures contained in Budget 2023 describing it as "a cost of living budget" worth €11bn - a €4.4bn package of once-off measures to address the current cost of living and €6.9bn in budgetary measures.

In a statement issued to The Anglo-Celt last night, he said: "In Fine Gael, we understand that the cost of living is rising. It’s more expensive to do the weekly shop, to fill your car, or to pay your utility bills.

"Budget 2023 is a Cost of Living Budget, designed to help you and your family, with measures for the most vulnerable and the squeezed middle."

Sen O'Reilly highlighted how, In this Budget, Fine Gael is:

• Putting more money back in your pocket by cutting income tax, increasing pension payments, and increasing welfare payments for families, people with disabilities and carers.

• Helping you and your family with the cost of living in areas like childcare, public transport, the cost of putting a child through school, or saving up for your first home.

• We are backing business by helping companies to pay their energy bills this winter.

• We are helping with the cost of going to college, by both cutting fees and raising the student grant.

• We are building safer and stronger communities by providing more resources to the Gardaí and the Defence Forces who together protect us.

• And we are ensuring the best start for every child with major investment in childcare and early education.

• Putting €2 billion aside this year and €4 billion next year in a Reserve Fund to protect Ireland from unexpected future shocks.

But Sinn Féin's Pauline Tully disagrees.

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