Parents telling children that 'even Santa is feeling the cost of living', Dáil hears

The Government decided not to include a cost-of-living package in Budget 2026, meaning that, for the first time in several years, householders did not receive energy credits

Pearse Doherty told Taoiseach Micheál Martin that his party colleague, Lynn Boylan, had obtained pre-budget warnings sent by officials arguing that energy credits were needed this winter more than others. File picture

Parents are telling their children that “even Santa is feeling the cost of living”, the Dáil has heard, as the Government was once again lambasted for “ditching energy credits”.

Sinn Féin’s finance spokesman Pearse Doherty told Taoiseach Micheál Martin that his party colleague, Lynn Boylan, had obtained pre-budget warnings sent by officials arguing that energy credits were needed this winter more than others.