#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>A living wage is the minimum income required for a single adult working full-time to achieve a socially acceptable minimum standard of living in Ireland. File photo</p>

economy

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

<p>'Research in other parts of the world, where traditional wood burning is used in the home, has shown that this is harmful and causes asthma, COPD and lung cancer.'</p>

news

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

<p>The Government has said data centres are crucial to the economy, but it will soon be obliged to adhere to European regulations aimed at making information about their operations more transparent. Picture: David Creedon</p>

spotlight

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

Person eating fish and polenta at restaurant

economy

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

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

comment-analysis

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

Woman shopping at a grocery store and checking her receipt

companies

Grocery price inflation increases again, putting further pressure on households

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

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

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

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

Cork among most expensive places in country to go to college, study finds

Cork among most expensive places in country to go to college, study finds

Letterkenny, Sligo, and Dundalk are the cheapest towns to go to college

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

Paul Hosford: What will it take to put childcare front and centre in the national conversation?

Paul Hosford: What will it take to put childcare front and centre in the national conversation?

For 20% of families, fees have not only not gone down, they have gone up in the months following an election in which the prohibitive cost of childcare was a key factor

Sat, 16 Aug, 2025

Budget supports for life sciences firms hit by US tariffs a 'priority', says finance minister

Budget supports for life sciences firms hit by US tariffs a 'priority', says finance minister

Paschal Donohoe once again reiterated that there will be no cost-of-living package in October's Budget

Wed, 13 Aug, 2025

'Voluntary' contributions, digital devices and other costs make education anything but free

'Voluntary' contributions, digital devices and other costs make education anything but free

If Ireland is to be a country where every child can achieve their right to education, we must ensure that education is not only free in name, but free in practice, writes Niamh Dalziel of the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul

Fri, 08 Aug, 2025

Unrecognizable supermarket aisle as background

No evidence of price gouging in supermarkets, says consumer watchdog

It comes as households are still feeling the pinch to a much greater extent at the grocery tills, as new figures showed the cost of food is still rising at almost three times the rate of general inflation

Thu, 07 Aug, 2025

5/12/2012 Budget Day

Over €157m in welfare overpayments identified last year

Inspectors conducted some 85,000 investigations across all welfare schemes with a further 15,700 probes conducted into suspected fraud

Wed, 06 Aug, 2025

'I will go into debt until March': Parents reveal what they do to afford school costs

'I will go into debt until March': Parents reveal what they do to afford school costs

The annual Back to School survey for children’s charity Barnardos found that more than half of parents are worried about how they’ll meet the costs this year

Wed, 06 Aug, 2025

Cork Crime: Soaring prices drive a surge in the theft of meat

Cork Crime: Soaring prices drive a surge in the theft of meat

Shoplifters are stealing expensive cuts of prime steaks and legs of lamb for sale on the black market

Mon, 04 Aug, 2025

Cost of electricity: halogen bulb and twenty Euro notes

Irish consumers to see lower electricity bills as levy to fund renewable energy to fall 38%

PSO levy for domestic consumers to fall from almost €39 currently to €24 from October

Fri, 01 Aug, 2025

Alcohol Drinking - Stock

Reducing Vat rate a blunt and costly policy instrument for hospitality

The sector was subject to the lower Vat rate of 9% from 2011 to 2018, and again from late 2020 to mid-2023 at an estimated cost of €3.6bn

Fri, 01 Aug, 2025

Chris Heinhold: Would a reduced Vat rate have saved my restaurant? Probably not

Chris Heinhold: Would a reduced Vat rate have saved my restaurant? Probably not

For us, like many small businesses that are owner-operated and facing spiralling costs and unsustainable debt, no one solution could have saved us from closure

Fri, 01 Aug, 2025

Government press conference

Jim Power: Budget countdown begins with big promises

Delivery on time and on budget of the aspirations in the revised National Development Plan — energy, water, housing, transport infrastructure, and climate change — will be essential

Sun, 27 Jul, 2025

Tapped out: What went wrong for Killarney Brewing and Distilling?

Tapped out: What went wrong for Killarney Brewing and Distilling?

Once a cross-Atlantic drinks venture, Killarney Brewing collapsed under mounting debt, global headwinds, and post-pandemic pressures

Sat, 26 Jul, 2025