#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>The report says that, overall, 13% of electricity customers and 27% of gas customers are in arrears. Picture: Stuart Boulton/Stock</p>

news

Irish households owe €177m in domestic energy debt

Energy minister Darragh O'Brien said that more targeted measures are needed to protect households, adding that energy credits were not sustainable

Colin Sheridan.png

Colin Sheridan: Ireland is moving so fast, it's forgotten its people

<p>The wholesale price of dairy products increased by 11.1% over the 12 months to September. </p>

economy

Wholesale food prices up by 4.5% in September

Mid adult woman in supermarket holding milk

comment-analysis

Five myths about the milk 'price war' going on in Ireland's supermarkets

Sad boy standing alone in the hallway

news

Budget 2026 cuts income of Ireland's poorest households by over 4%, says report

Electric vehicles survey

news

EV switch ‘biggest step’ most drivers can take to hit climate goals, committee hears

Budget 2026: Childcare cost ‘is basically a second mortgage’

Budget 2026: Childcare cost ‘is basically a second mortgage’

Two mothers trying to balance their household budgets highlight two big challenges — the cost-of-living crisis and eye-watering childcare costs

Wed, 08 Oct, 2025

Budget 2026: 'I can’t fathom the amount we're spending on essentials'

Budget 2026: 'I can’t fathom the amount we're spending on essentials'

Despite living in a solar-powered home, a Killarney couple say soaring energy and grocery bills are pushing them to the limit

Wed, 08 Oct, 2025

Shoppers at supermarket Sainsbury's for their weekly shopping when special prices are on offer, dealing with the cost of living

Caitríona Redmond: Families go backwards as Paschal Donohoe peels an orange in his pocket

Soaring energy prices and food shrinkflation are battering even the most frugal of families — and Budget 2026 has done nothing for them

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Mick Clifford: Some sections of society left shortchanged by 'Big Mac budget'

Mick Clifford: Some sections of society left shortchanged by 'Big Mac budget'

This was a budget more focused on business, and the need to ensure that the economy is equipped for any approaching storm rather than alleviating the worst ravages of poverty, writes Mick Clifford

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Budget 2026: 'I just want the Government to do better for people with disabilities'

Budget 2026: 'I just want the Government to do better for people with disabilities'

People with intellectual disabilities feel they are very low on the Government's list of priorities

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Wage slips, wages pay payslips wageslips

No boost to take-home pay as tax bands frozen in Budget 2026, says Donohoe

Finance minister Paschal Donohoe confirms income tax bands will remain unchanged as budget negotiations drag on amid economic caution

Sat, 04 Oct, 2025

The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast: What is frugaltok, and should you try it?

The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast: What is frugaltok, and should you try it?

While you may have learned some cost-saving tricks from a frugal granny, Gen Z learn these things online, so every penny-pinching trick conceivable is now part of a TikTok trend called frugaltok

Listen | Fri, 03 Oct, 2025

Wage slips, wages pay payslips wageslips

Group recommends another increase in living wage ahead of Budget 2026

Over the past year, the Living Wage Technical Group says minimum living costs increased by 5.8% for a working-age single adult, with rents accounting for two-thirds of the rise

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Image of modern fireplace, woodburning stove, coal buckets, log basket

Indoor wood burners cause damage 'in a similar way to cigarette smoke'

Study links the growing popularity of domestic wood burning to lung damage

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

What Ursula von der Leyen’s EU energy plans mean for Ireland’s soaring household bills

What Ursula von der Leyen’s EU energy plans mean for Ireland’s soaring household bills

As energy bills rise again, EU leaders push sweeping reforms — but Ireland faces warnings it is lagging behind targets

Sat, 27 Sep, 2025

Person eating fish and polenta at restaurant

Just 10% of consumers see a hospitality Vat cut as a budget priority

Healthcare, housing, and cost of living among top priorities of Irish households, survey shows

Fri, 26 Sep, 2025

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

One-off payments failed to tackle poverty — what will work is to index social welfare rates to average wages

Benchmarking social welfare rates to average earnings would help to mitigate the impact of rising costs, give long-term certainty to households on fixed incomes, and prevent widening income inequality

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

Woman shopping at a grocery store and checking her receipt

Grocery price inflation increases again, putting further pressure on households

Significant price rises in weeks leading up to September 7 came amid increased household spending as schools started after summer break, new data shows

Mon, 22 Sep, 2025

Adam Maguire: Irish Bailout Babies still paying the price of the financial crash

Adam Maguire: Irish Bailout Babies still paying the price of the financial crash

People who were children during the 2008 crash and subsequent bailout are struggling on inadequate pay and living in insecure rentals with little hope of starting a family, writes Adam Maguire

Mon, 22 Sep, 2025

Young woman 20s attempting to read and understand her electricity meter reading and energy bill

Budget 2026: 9% Vat rate on gas and electricity should remain – Jack Chambers

Public expenditure minister said the 9% rate should be retained to prevent further price hikes for consumers

Sun, 21 Sep, 2025

Irish Economy As Latest Retail Figures Released

Business groups warn minimum wage hike will mean many retail staff 'will not have jobs'

Chief executive of Retail Excellence Ireland Jean McCabe said the Government must share the financial burden with tax relief

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

Electric bill charges paper

SSE Airtricity to hike electricity prices with average of €151 added to annual bills

SSE Airtricity said that its unit rates for electricity and its standing charges will increase by 9.5% from October 20

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

Leinster House media briefings

Proposed minimum wage rise which retailers claim would 'decimate' them is 'stingy', says TD

The 5% increase, as recommended by the Low Pay Commission, would bring the minimum wage to €14.15 an hour

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

Nursing Home stock

Irish Examiner view: With no plan, catastrophe looms large for elderly

That the ESRI highlighted a potential future calamity in terms of our ability to effectively manage and care for our increasingly ageing population, should set alarm bells ringing

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

Taoiseach accepts need to 'rein in spending' following Central Bank's warning

Taoiseach accepts need to 'rein in spending' following Central Bank's warning

Micheál Martin added that the impression that opposition politicians give is that the Government is 'spending very little' in the upcoming budget

Thu, 18 Sep, 2025

A pensioner adjusting the temperature control on his combi boiler. Redcar, UK. 26/5/2021. Photograph: Stuart Boulton.

Government urged to reverse 'terrible decision' to withdraw energy credits in budget

In response, Simon Harris said Sinn Féin had had a 'bonkers idea' to keep energy prices down by 'giving taxpayers' money to energy companies'

Thu, 18 Sep, 2025

Month revenue of young couple

Overheating the economy could 'hamper delivery of National Development Plan and housing targets'

ESRI to warn TDs about winding down cost-of-living measures

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity

The five major issues facing the Government as it returns from summer holidays

As well as next month's Budget, the Government will have the housing crisis and the presidential election to contend with

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Grocery inflation

Wealth tax would allow for a cost-of-living package in next month's budget

Irrespective of how it would be funded, a significant Budget 2026 cost-of-living package needs to happen to help hard-pressed consumers facing soaring prices

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

An old miniature man and woman standing on a pile of coins.

Ireland can lead EU on equality — but first we must get our own legislation in order

Ireland's EU presidency will be a chance to show leadership in terms of tolerance and fairness, writes Liam Herrick

Mon, 15 Sep, 2025

Electric bill charges paper

Customers face massive spike in bills as Bord Gáis and Pinergy hike electricity prices

Public facing further €200 being added to energy bills with numbers in arrears already at a 'historical' high

Fri, 12 Sep, 2025

Construction of new homes at Ebbsfleet Garden City in Kent.

Ciarán Casey: Lack of vision has wasted Ireland's unplanned tax windfall

The pageantry of Budget Day means that politicians will aim to avoid landmines, then go back to business as usual, writes Ciarán Casey

Fri, 12 Sep, 2025

Mother and son looking out of window

Systemic barriers are keeping families in poverty, summit hears

Group representing single-parent families tells Child Poverty and Well-being Summit we need the political will to address child poverty and deprivation

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

Food prices

Food inflation at highest level in two years, CSO reveals

The CSO said consumer prices rose by 2% in the year to August, compared to an annual reading of 1.7% a month earlier

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

RTB warns of ‘significant concern’ as average rents for new tenancies up 5.5%

RTB warns of ‘significant concern’ as average rents for new tenancies up 5.5%

RTB warns of significant rent hikes outside Dublin, as terminations rise and corporate landlords expand their share of the market

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

Calculating energy efficiency and energy bill papers

Electric Ireland to cut gas prices by 4%, holding electricity prices steady for winter

Electric Ireland says its fourth gas price cut since 2023 will save households €57, while electricity prices remain unchanged

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

Energia announces 10.9% electricity price hike as households warned of ‘new normal’ for bills

Energia announces 10.9% electricity price hike as households warned of ‘new normal’ for bills

Households face steep winter energy hikes as Energia confirms price rises, while Government insists support must be permanent, not once-off

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

travel background

As three in five under-25s consider leaving the country, we must act to help young people

Young people's needs are continually neglected even though they are disproportionately impacted by the housing crisis, writes Kathryn Walsh

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

Electric bill charges paper

Energia confirms double-digit October electricity price rise

Energia says higher electricity bills are 'unavoidable' as system operator and network charges climb, with no change to gas prices

Tue, 09 Sep, 2025

Sad boy standing alone in the hallway

Housing costs drag 20% of Irish children into poverty, ESRI research shows

The ESRI shows that child poverty levels are currently on a par with the years following the 2008 financial crash when the skyrocketing cost of housing is factored in

Tue, 09 Sep, 2025

Sinn Féin won't impose whip as they leave decision on presidential candidate until later this month

Sinn Féin won't impose whip as they leave decision on presidential candidate until later this month

The party does not intend to state whether it will run a candidate or back a party outsider until later this month, which Mary Lou McDonald said is 'plenty of time'

Mon, 08 Sep, 2025

Colorful assortment of Quality Street chocolate wrapped in metallic foil, delicious candy produced and sold by Nestle company

Shrinkflation bites as boxes of Quality Street and Celebrations lose weight

Toblerone and Chocolate Orange also smaller this year after poor cocoa harvests in Africa raise cost of raw materials

Mon, 08 Sep, 2025

A pensioner adjusting the temperature control on his combi boiler. Redcar, UK. 26/5/2021. Photograph: Stuart Boulton.

Energy regulator warns of ‘historic’ arrears as electricity credits end and prices climb

Nearly half a million households are already behind on bills, with regulator warning arrears will worsen as government credits end

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

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

Charity warns of 'digital divide' as parents unable to afford school devices for children

School reliance on costly digital devices is undermining the benefits of the free books scheme, the Society of St Vincent de Paul warns

Mon, 01 Sep, 2025

New car production

CSO retail index see strong growth in July boosted by motor sales

However retail sales in some sectors have been falling including larger-than-expected 3.5% declines in categories including newspapers, books, and department stores

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025

Driver Delivering Online Grocery Order

Donal Hickey: Food waste is a big problem for our pockets and for the planet

When food is wasted, all the resources used in bringing food to our tables are wasted too. Reducing your food waste is a key action you can take to help the environment and save money too

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025

Cost of electricity: halogen bulb and twenty Euro notes

A perfect storm: Rising energy, health insurance and food bills pile pressure on Irish families

Electricity bills will rise by €29 a year while health insurance premiums jump 3%, compounding grocery and inflation pressures

Wed, 27 Aug, 2025

27/5/2010. Government to sell VHI

VHI becomes the latest health insurer to announce price hike

VHI will increase health insurance premiums by 3% from October 2025, following similar hikes by Laya and Irish Life

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

young mum queries a bill on the phone .

Consumer sentiment improves marginally in August but cost-of-living concerns rise

Irish League of Credit Unions index shows consumer sentiment index reached 61.1 during August, up from the 59.1 figure reported for July

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025