Cut VAT on energy products and delay carbon tax increase says Hoare
Cllr Eddie Hoare wants the Government to make further efforts to address the rising cost of living for struggling households.
“Electricity costs are spiralling out of control at present and further increases in the coming months are just not affordable. Vulnerable households needs more and I expect the Government to introduce more measures,” Cllr Hoare said.
He suggests reducing the VAT rate on energy products to 9 per cent and also believes the proposed carbon tax increase should be temporarily deferred.
“The price of a 40kg bag of coal will be over €30 if carbon taxes are introduced as proposed,” Cllr Hoare adds. “Due to a combination of factors, this is an increase of nearly 50 per cent in less than a year and vulnerable families are suffering. I expect that more measures will be considered by the Government.” — Cian O’Connell
HAP must be reassessed in light of rising cost of living says Mc Nelis
Cllr Niall Mc Nelis says there must be an increase in Housing Assistance Payment supports for the most vulnerable in the housing market.
“HAP limits have not been revised since 2016, yet we have seen rents increase by 10 per cent in the last year alone,” Cllr Mc Nelis says.
“In addition to this, the Central Bank revised forecasts published last week warn that inflation this year will peak at 8 per cent. It’s long past time to increase payments made to those availing of the HAP scheme who are struggling.
“Labour has consistently called for an increase in HAP due to the rising cost of living and extortionate rents demanded throughout the country. Renters in Galway are really feeling the squeeze and need more support.
The Locked Out report published by the Simon Community last week shows a decrease of 46 per cent in the number of properties actually available in the HAP category – only 80 properties in the country are currently on the market at HAP rates.
“There are many low to middle income earners who avail of the HAP scheme as they are in the high rent, low security private rental sector.
The scheme was designed to allow people to access the private rental sector but now that rents are jumping, it isn’t working for people anymore.”
The Government needs to make an intervention according to Cllr Mc Nelis.
“Every month, we are seeing homeless figures creep up,” he adds.
“The majority of people who enter homelessness come from the private rental market. HAP was introduced to protect and support these people but the payment is no longer sufficient.
“The rental market is simply unaffordable for most and without properly assessed supports, more people will fall into homelessness.
“Unfortunately we know that too many people in Galway are having to decide whether to put food on the table or heat their home.
Government must commit to an increase in HAP in line with inflation, taking into account of the average cost of renting in Ireland today.”
