Cost of living

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#Cost of living

Articles and features relating to the increasing cost of living in Ireland

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p dir="ltr">For more than a decade, digitalisation has carried an air of inevitability. Children inhabit a technological world; schools must prepare them for it. Stock picture</p>

spotlight

Schoolbooks are free, so why are Irish parents paying hundreds for digital devices?

Parents are questioning whether individually owned screens are essential for learning as concerns grow over cost, distraction and digital literacy.

<p>Irish grocers find themselves at the centre of a cost-of-living debate and facing questions about profit margins across the sector. Picture: Getty Images</p>

economy

The future of Irish grocery: Private labels, AI, and the brand within a brand

Elaine-Loughlin

Elaine Loughlin: The budget numbers look good — until the corporation tax luck runs out

Dáil backs fuel excise cuts extension as Tánaiste warns against long-term tax rises

politics

Dáil backs fuel excise cuts extension as Tánaiste warns against long-term tax rises

The Mick Clifford Podcast: Is the Government making it up on the hoof over fuel prices?

spotlight

The Mick Clifford Podcast: Is the Government making it up on the hoof over fuel prices?

Waitress Serving Drinks To Group Of Friends Sitting At Table In Pub Garden Enjoying Drink Together

news

Cost-of-living crisis forces people to reduce spending on nights out and holidays

Fuel prices

Paul Hosford: Covid has made it difficult for Governments to refuse financial dig-outs

There is now a political expectation: when prices rise, the State will step in to cushion consumers. That expectation is difficult to reverse, writes Paul Hosford

Fri, 28 Aug, 2026

Andy Burnham visit to Northern Ireland

McDonald accuses Burnham of 'burying his head in the sand' over border poll

The Sinn Féin leader criticised Mr Burnham’s comments, saying a prime minister does not have the right dismiss a commitment made within the Good Friday Agreement

Thu, 27 Aug, 2026

Vhi announces 2.75% health insurance price increase from October

Vhi announces 2.75% health insurance price increase from October

Vhi says rising healthcare demand and claims costs are behind the latest increase, with some family plans rising by more than €20 monthly

Thu, 27 Aug, 2026

Middle East conflict

Cabinet agrees phased rollback of fuel excise cuts from November

Cabinet has agreed to restore fuel excise rates gradually, while extending the NORA levy cut until the end of October

Thu, 27 Aug, 2026

Large budget package and tax cuts will only drive up prices, finance watchdog warns

Large budget package and tax cuts will only drive up prices, finance watchdog warns

Irish Fiscal Advisory Council said a 6% increase in spending was higher than the sustainable growth rate of the economy of about 5% and was not appropriate for the current position the economy is in

Tue, 25 Aug, 2026

Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon price rises in western Europe ‘highest in world’

Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon price rises in western Europe ‘highest in world’

A series of price rises by Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime over the past three years have seen European viewers hit by the largest average rises in subscription charges.

Mon, 24 Aug, 2026

Who is the Cork entrepreneur behind one of Ireland's biggest wind energy investors?

Who is the Cork entrepreneur behind one of Ireland's biggest wind energy investors?

Temporis Group is run by David Watson who has a philosophy doctorate from Cambridge and a chemistry degree from UCC

Mon, 24 Aug, 2026

Irish Government's Summer Economic Statement

Budget 2027: Ministers told to find savings in their departments

Jack Chambers has been giving fellow ministers a ‘sobering assessment’ of Ireland's public finances ahead October's budget

Mon, 24 Aug, 2026

Wind energy: Why does Ireland still have only one community-owned wind farm?

Wind energy: Why does Ireland still have only one community-owned wind farm?

Templederry in Tipperary is an outlier: Shareholder John Forgarty thinks he knows why. He and other experts spoke with NEIL MICHAEL for today's 'Irish Examiner' wind energy special report

Mon, 24 Aug, 2026

Trump Canada

Canada vows ‘dollar-for-dollar’ retaliation after US trade deal talks collapse

Mark Carney says Canada will retaliate against US tariffs after last-minute negotiations failed to produce a trade agreement

Sat, 22 Aug, 2026

Ikea Ireland's profits more than doubled to €15.75m last year

Ikea Ireland's profits more than doubled to €15.75m last year

Ikea Ireland's revenues rose by only 0.36% to €247.33m amid subdued consumer confidence due to the cost-of-living crisis

Fri, 21 Aug, 2026

Fuel prices

Government shelves planned 10c diesel and 9c petrol excise increases

Cabinet will formally approve the move before TDs vote on a financial resolution to delay the planned fuel excise increases

Fri, 21 Aug, 2026

Fuel prices

Government could recall Dáil to delay September fuel excise hikes, minister says

Peter Burke says escalating Middle East tensions have prompted the Government to review the timing of planned fuel tax increases

Thu, 20 Aug, 2026

Spurred By Rising Prices, Phoenix Undergoes A New Housing Boom

House prices rise 5.6% but annual growth hits lowest level since January 2024

House prices continued to rise nationally in June, but the annual rate of growth fell to its lowest level since early 2024.

Wed, 19 Aug, 2026

Fewer medical cards being issued despite cost-of-living crisis

Fewer medical cards being issued despite cost-of-living crisis

Last year, for the third year in a row, fewer medical cards were held than previous years, dropping from 1.611m cards in 2023 to 1.552m last year

Tue, 18 Aug, 2026

Solar panels in Ireland: Could now be the time to cut your rising electricity bills?

Solar panels in Ireland: Could now be the time to cut your rising electricity bills?

Rising gas prices and record solar uptake are prompting Irish households to consider whether panels can deliver long-term savings

Mon, 17 Aug, 2026

Woman paying bills

Caitríona Redmond: The hidden costs of living alone

From housing and holidays to insurance and utilities, single adults often pay more for the basics. The toll isn’t always financial either.

Mon, 17 Aug, 2026

Electric bill charges paper

Pinergy to hike electricity prices by almost 10% from September

Around 28,000 households will face higher bills from September as wholesale energy costs continue to rise and arrears reach record levels.

Fri, 14 Aug, 2026

Ger Hyland who is President of the Irish Road Haulage Association said hauliers feel helpless as motor, employer liability and p

Farmers and hauliers seek delay in excise rate hike

According to AA Ireland, excise rates cuts has seen temporary reductions of 27c per litre on petrol and 32c on diesel

Wed, 12 Aug, 2026

Close Up Of Woman Opening Euro Energy Bill During Cost Of Living Crisis

More households in energy arrears than ever before, CRU figures show

The amount of money owed on electricity arrears has climbed to an average of €512.02, while the amount for gas arrears figure has climbed to €223.57

Tue, 11 Aug, 2026

Straight into my basket you go

Caitríona Redmond: Could fixed discounts on grocery prices help with the cost of living here?

There are moves afoot to fix or drop grocery prices in both New York and Scotland

Mon, 10 Aug, 2026

Mayo pub spending surges by 210% after All-Ireland win

Mayo pub spending surges by 210% after All-Ireland win

Data shows All-Ireland finals fuel spend surge across pubs, restaurants, and fast food

Mon, 10 Aug, 2026

Elaine Loughlin: Reliance on fruit and veg imports reveals just how vulnerable our food security is

Elaine Loughlin: Reliance on fruit and veg imports reveals just how vulnerable our food security is

We must start treating our fruit and vegetable producers as a national asset to be protected.

Sat, 08 Aug, 2026

Wind turbines in Ireland aerial view

Alan Healy: We're throwing away the cheap electricity — then paying to import the dear stuff

There is a bitter irony about €41 increase in electricity bills coming into effect in October which is needed to strengthen a grid that is unable to carry the cheap electricity we do generate

Fri, 07 Aug, 2026

Young woman enjoys time in kitchen with a smile while looking out the window during a sunny day

Joan Cronin: Free women often choose to remain child-free — why's that so hard to understand?

While finance can influence family planning, particularly the number of children women will have, it is rarely the sole deciding factor

Fri, 31 Jul, 2026

Inflation figures

Cost of living fears weighs heavily on Irish public as consumer sentiment dips

"Ddisappointing" softening in sentiment came despite lower retail fuel costs in July and a slight easing in inflation,

Tue, 28 Jul, 2026

Close Up Of Person With Addiction To Online Gambling Or Shopping Using Credit Card And Mobile Phone

Caitríona Redmond: How new €3 customs charge is changing online shopping habits

Items from outside the EU are attracting higher levies, but the quality of the goods is also coming under the microscope

Mon, 27 Jul, 2026

Newlyweds cutting wedding cake

Colin Sheridan: How has the Government performed after 548 days in office?

Colin Sheridan argues governments should be judged by delivery, not promises, as key election commitments remain unmet

Sat, 25 Jul, 2026

Budget 2027: €1.5bn in tax cuts, and ministers must 'prioritise' if they seek to increase spending

Budget 2027: €1.5bn in tax cuts, and ministers must 'prioritise' if they seek to increase spending

Jack Chambers tells departments 'real trade-offs and prioritisation will be required' as 'there’s less available across Government next year than there was last year'

Thu, 23 Jul, 2026

Close-up boy studying at home with tablet and doing school homework. Distance learning online education or stay at home concept.

Wider mix of expenses makes it harder for parents to plan and absorb school costs, survey says

Primary school parents told the Irish League of Credit Unions they expect to spend €1,607 across the school year, while post-primary school parents expect to spend €2,142

Tue, 14 Jul, 2026

Father with daughter (9-12 months) and shopping list in supermarket

Caitríona Redmond: My six steps to help keep your grocery costs down

Chaotic and impulsive supermarket runs will cost you money. Here's my advice on keeping your bills down

Mon, 13 Jul, 2026

Bakhurst says Late Late Show host Kiely's salary is no more than €250k

Bakhurst says Late Late Show host Kiely's salary is no more than €250k

RTÉ announced earlier this week that Mr Kielty would host the Late Late Show until 2028

Thu, 09 Jul, 2026

Solar panels on residential roof in closeup shot.

Free solar panels and higher grants under new Government plan to reduce energy costs

The 'Irish Examiner' understands that the total costs of these measures could be in the region of €200m in a full calendar year.

Mon, 06 Jul, 2026

unleaded petrol and diesel fuel pumps at a self service petrol station in the UK

Tánaiste details when excise on petrol and diesel will increase as cuts phased out

Government agrees phased withdrawal of fuel excise relief while the Tánaiste presses retailers over delayed reductions at the pumps

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

Two thirds of Irish people would vote to remain in EU - survey

Two thirds of Irish people would vote to remain in EU - survey

'More In Common' poll: Irish voters favour stronger economic ties with the EU, and now regard several European countries — including the UK — as closer allies than the US

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

Irish life chief defends health insurance premium hikes

S Irish life chief defends health insurance premium hikes

Declan Bolger says premiums are linked to claim costs and that health insurance is a 'very low margin business'

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

Close up of a young woman refueling her car

Taoiseach: Excise cut extension will be "definitively" decided on Tuesday

Micheál Martin said this would ensure any legislative measures required could be completed “in good time” before the Dáil’s summer recess

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Petrol costs

Tánaiste hints at excise duty cuts on petrol and diesel being extended

However, Simon Harris said he 'cannot ignore' that petrol and diesel prices have started to fall in recent days

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Local gift card scheme in Cork town sees €200,000 sales in five months

Local gift card scheme in Cork town sees €200,000 sales in five months

The Grá Macroom gift card aims to keep spending local, with over 100 businesses accepting the card

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

Happy family on train station

Living costs jump 24% as lower income families left behind, SVP report warns

The income needed for a basic standard of living has risen sharply in recent years, with lower-income households struggling to keep pace with surging costs, a new report has found.

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Meets UK Executives

Tesco's Cork chief executive Ken Murphy says poor weather putting dampener on growth

Sales in Ireland grow 5.56% to €966m, boosted by strong growth in food and online shopping

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

Worried man checking bills and looking at financial analysis of expenses at home.

Quarter of Irish workers could only cope financially for a month if their income stopped, survey finds

People in their 30s and 40s most vulnerable to financial shock if their regular income were to stop suddenly, while those aged 55 and over could cope for seven months on average

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

Senior couple going over bills

Irish consumers feel more financial pressure than their peers across Europe – survey

Survey finds that most consumers plan to reduce spending, 33% have scaled back savings contributions, and 28% have drawn down existing savings to cover the cost of living

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

Mick Clifford: North-South interconnector saga drags on for over two decades

Mick Clifford: North-South interconnector saga drags on for over two decades

Locals accept North-South interconnector is important to the electricity grid. But they are seeking 'procedural justice' and for every possible solution, including going underground, to be properly examined

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026