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Finance minister Paschal Donohoe said he was clear what government would do at a time of uncertainty. RollingNews.ie

Donohoe asserts Government was 'honest' about future of cost-of-living supports during election

Government spending on cost-of-living supports is set to be retrenched.

FINANCE MINISTER PASCHAL Donohoe has defended the government’s budgetary election promises, stating that he and other candidates were honest with voters during the campaign.

The government has been repeatedly criticised by the opposition in recent months for the planned end of cost-of-living supports in the next budget.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil ministers have repeatedly said that Budget 2026 will include more-targeted measures to help those who are struggling the most, and that public spending needs to be cut back in the face of a threat of US tariffs.

Speaking to RTÉ Radio One today, Donohoe said that Ireland can withstand a potential shock as a result of possible tariffs on the EU with the sum of windfall tax receipts collected in the last number of years

Asked, in the context of the end of cost-of-living supports in next year’s budget, if the public were misled during the election campaign last year, Donohoe said:

“In the election debates…I made it clear and was honest that if we were in a moment of challenge, we would have to make decisions that would continue to help and to keep our country safe.

“We’re acting in the way that I, and my party, outlined at election time,” he added.

The Dublin Central TD said that the government is aware of the financial challenges that people are facing and intends to bring forward measures which “reflect that inflation has come down, but acknowledging now that we’re seeing the world change around us”.

Figures from the CSO in March found that a third of households in Ireland had reported that housing costs were a “heavy financial burden” on them in 2024. The Journal‘s readers also told us their stories of dealing with the cost of living.

A recent survey from poverty charity Barnardo’s also highlighted the impact of the rising cost of groceries on low-income families, with 40% of parents they had skipped meals in order to have enough food to provide to their children.

Despite accusations that the government attempted to attract voters in the last general election through the introduction of large packages of once-off payments in successive budgets towards the end of its term, support has largely held for the coalition.

A B&A IPSOS poll, published by the Irish Times this morning, has found that support for Government parties has remained steady since spring. Support for Independents, some of whom are propping up the government, has grown.

Asked about the accusations, Donohoe told the Morning Ireland programme today: “I answered those questions truthfully then, I’ll answer them truthfully now.

“When I was dealing with those questions a year ago, when I was bringing in that budget that helped with the cost of living, I did so at a time in which inflation was very high within our economy.

“And I always said, again and again, that these are measures that could not be permanent, and I said that at election time. I’m making that argument here again.”

The Fine Gael minister added that the rate at which prices are increasing is beginning to slow.

While accepting that people are still experiencing financial challenges, Donohoe said the upcoming budget aims to focus on the creation of jobs and delivery of infrastructure to future-proof Ireland’s economy.

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    Mute Glen
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    Aug 15th 2014, 5:35 PM

    And they want to charge people for this sewer smelling fluoridated slop they call water ……

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    Mute Bren O'Connell ت
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    Aug 15th 2014, 5:38 PM

    Ballygowan slop.

    46
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    Mute Antonov Merinov
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    Aug 15th 2014, 7:06 PM

    What is it with this country and it’s water supply❓
    I am glad that I have my own well.
    I would feel very aggrieved if I was asked to pay for this service.

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    Mute Alison Te Hira Mee
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    Aug 16th 2014, 3:43 AM

    I’m not being facetious but wouldn’t the idea that once people are paying for the service, then the government can afford to pay for repairs and decent pipes etc? I live in Sydney and pay for water and I’ve no issue with that. Now if the water supply went to sh*it , i would then have an issue paying but if I wasn’t paying, why would I expect to get it for free? I know this won’t go down well but please someone explain why people expect to get water service for free??

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    Mute Joan Dolan
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    Aug 16th 2014, 9:26 AM

    I think the problem is though Alison, that this is another bill coming into people’s houses after a few years of reductions in people’s wages, people having lost their jobs, reduction in payments such as childrens allowance, social welfare payments and the introduction of property tax and people arent sure how much more they can take to survive. Also, we were told the property tax was going into our local area and would be used to benefit our area but we cant get so much as a zebra crossing or lollipop lady for our schools without being told by the council we would have to fund raise for it ourselves. In an ideal world, water rates revenue should pay for rusty pipes to be fixed and a better service but I guarantee you in 12, 24 or even 60 months time, warnings such as these will still be issued by the councils that the water is not adequate for consumption.

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    Mute FollowMe❤ #FreeMeers
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    Aug 16th 2014, 9:35 AM

    It’s not the paying for a service we have an issue with. It’s paying it to a private company who have a monopoly and therefore will charge us what they like. We are being forced into this, and the water supply is not up to scratch and they will not improve it. This is how they work here in Ireland. The government is no better at all- look at what they did to the M50 tolls. In essence, we are fed up of having less than no money when we pay high taxes already.

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    Mute Celticspirit321
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    Aug 15th 2014, 6:23 PM

    What the government hasn’t realised is that when people pay for a service and that service isn’t up to scratch, the 3 Rs come into play. Repair, replace or refund. If they keep dishing out piss, legally, we don’t have to pay a cent

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    Mute Dublinjonny
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    Aug 15th 2014, 5:46 PM

    Don’t worry Co.Clare sure as soon as the water meters are in you can now have the luxury and benefit of paying for piss water

    66
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    Mute Alanearls
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    Aug 15th 2014, 7:04 PM

    My mum lives in Clare, she hasn’t been able to use tap water for years, they gave her a nice shiny new meter recently though, I wonder does it make the water that passes through it better quality

    44
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    Mute Fergal Kelly
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    Aug 15th 2014, 5:45 PM

    Hang on now, how exactly do they stop algal bloom?? It’s nature ffs

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    Mute Alan O'connor
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    Aug 15th 2014, 5:53 PM

    Jesus don’t introduce facts into an argument on the journal. You’ll be vilified forever!!!

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    Mute Mahon Slattery
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    Aug 15th 2014, 7:03 PM

    Algal blooms are usually caused by nutrient pollution by nitrogen, phosphates from agriculture, intensive animal farming fertilisers and household cleaning products. Climate change is also thought to encourage their progression. Not nature.

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    Mute David Geraghty
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    Aug 15th 2014, 10:32 PM

    Nature? As in farmers polluting de gaff nature?

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    Mute Kevin f
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    Aug 15th 2014, 8:18 PM

    All the summers as a child and teenager spent having fun on this lake…. Hours each day… Peeing in it all the time like everyone else……. I wonder has this led to the onset of this fungal problem????

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    Mute Adrian Beakey
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    Aug 15th 2014, 10:58 PM

    Played on the lake during my child hood and pissed in it as well.
    And the summers were better back then .
    With no bloom on the lake ???? None that we were told about anyway.
    I am still drinking the water because it did not kill us back then and it won’t kill us now.

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    Mute Alan McLoughlin
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    Aug 16th 2014, 1:02 AM

    Corofin is my home town. It has only recently had the water filtration and treatment system upgraded/renewed. The issue lies with irresponsible farming practices, and I would ask anyone who spots a farmer spreading slurry during heavy rain to report this to the EPA immediately to prevent further algal bloom from appearing.

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    Mute Alan McLoughlin
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    Aug 16th 2014, 1:06 AM

    The regional office is based in Limerick and you can call them on:
    061-224764

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    Mute spuds mcgoo
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    Aug 15th 2014, 9:31 PM

    You can’t even shower with the stuff??? That’s just shocking

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    Mute Brian Troy
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    Aug 15th 2014, 11:25 PM

    What happened to the earlier article about floride costing each taxpayer a million Euro a week or some tripe. Where is the apology?

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    Mute pad mul
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    Aug 16th 2014, 12:09 AM

    tho has pretty much become an annual thing. every August, for as long as I can remember; these notices have been issued.

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    Mute Caroline aMarie
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    Aug 16th 2014, 6:14 PM

    Another way or having the water changes justified.BOO.

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    Mute Caroline aMarie
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    Aug 17th 2014, 9:30 PM

    Sorry typo.I meant water CHARGE.

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    Mute Brehon Law
    Favourite Brehon Law
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    Aug 16th 2014, 8:26 AM

    Same thing is happening in lakes in the US – check out GreenPartnerNews for more info if interested

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