Social welfare increase of €15 won't cover cost of living rise

'People on low incomes who set aside food budgets for the week, they’re saying their shopping basket is getting smaller and smaller,' said Tricia Keilthy of St Vincent de Paul. 

Increasing social welfare payments by €15 won’t be enough to support families facing crippling cost-of-living increases, the Government has been warned, after the latest figures showed inflation remains at its highest level in 38 years.

For back-to-back months, inflation has now stood at 9.1%, the highest rate since 1984.