Pensioners and welfare recipients to receive 'additional' cost-of-living supports

The Taoiseach said those two groups are “really struggling” the most with the high cost of living and the government must protect them

Pensioners and welfare recipients will receive “additional benefits” to help them combat the cost-of-living crisis, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.

He said those two groups are “really struggling” the most with the high cost of living and the Government must protect them.

“There will be a social welfare and pensions element to the cost of living package for the spring and that’s because people on pensions and people who are in receiving social welfare payments, they’re the ones who are really struggling the most with the high cost of living and we have to help,” he said.

Justice Minister Simon Harris has also backed the retention of some universal supports for families beyond the end of February.

Finance ministers Michael McGrath and Paschal Donohoe will meet on Thursday to discuss which benefits are to be scaled back, but Mr Harris signalled that some of the non-targeted measures such as the excise cut and the energy credits could be extended.

Minister Simon Harris also gave his backing to under-fire Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman, despite stinging criticism this weekend from many of his Fine Gael colleagues. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

“There also needs to be a universal element recognising that all families all workers all people are feeling the cost of living impact. So we will bring forward a revised package that is both targeted and universal very shortly,” he told RTÉ’s The Week in Politics.

Mr Varadkar said government ministers and departments have come forward with buildings to house Ukrainian refugees, despite confirmation that no government department has yet responded to Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s urgent call for buildings to accommodate refugees last week.

In his letter to Cabinet colleagues, the minister said that he was urgently seeking any large buildings that could accommodate more than 50 people.

The aim was to create enough space to avoid situations where people were left without accommodation.

Mr Varadkar said there have been a number of calls for accommodation and government departments have responded to that.

When asked about this latest call, he said: “But that was only a week ago. Various government departments have responded. The Department of Justice has offered Thornton Hall for example. The Department of Higher Education is offering student accommodation during the summer period. We know the HSE has offered a number of buildings that were examining now.” 

Former Cabinet ministers Charlie Flanagan, Regina Doherty and Michael Ring publicly criticised Roderic O’Gorman and his department for failing to provide information about where refugees and asylum seekers are being accommodated. Picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos

Both Mr Varadkar and Mr Harris said that since September up to 700 deportation orders have been issued and in most cases, those affected self deport without the orders having to be enforced.

Mr Harris said there were 926 fines issued to airlines in cases where people were allowed to board planes without the proper documentation. Each fine is up to €1,500.

Mr Harris also gave his backing to under-fire Mr O’Gorman, despite stinging criticism this weekend from many of his Fine Gael colleagues.

Mr Harris, however, backed his Cabinet colleague saying: “The minister is doing an excellent job. He’s a superb colleague, and he’s working around the clock and he has the full support of all people in government,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Dáil’s Business Committee is considering the establishment of a new cross-party Oireachtas committee or informal caucus, to focus on migration.

Before Christmas then Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that he would be open to such an idea.

The Department of Integration has also confirmed that it would be willing to engage with either body.