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

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.

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.

During Leaders’ Questions, Mr Doherty warned that people are feeling the pinch in the run-up to Christmas, as he accused the Government of “abandoning workers and families”.

He stated that the analysis from the Department of Energy, obtained under Freedom of Information legislation, noted that the case for energy credits was stronger this year than last, that households would have to find an extra €321 to cover energy costs, and that an energy scheme for struggling households was “shelved”.

“People are under huge pressure in the lead up to Christmas,” Mr Doherty said. “They're watching every single euro, and they're forced to make really tough choices.

“I spoke to a mother on Monday. She and her husband are working. She talked to me about her three kids. They sat down to write their Christmas list last week.

“Even though they weren't asking for much, she had to convince each and every one of them to drop something off the list. She had to sit them down and explain to those children that even Santa is feeling the cost-of-living crisis this year.

He asked Mr Martin if he "in any way" understands the pressure that ordinary families "the length and breadth of this State" are under this Christmas.

“People see no end in sight, and they see a Government that is closed off to their hardship, and it can't go on.

“You need to act to end the rip-off, to get costs under control and to make life affordable. Your inaction doesn't cut it, and your bluff and spin has run out of road.

“Why did you cancel energy credits, despite the analysis from your own officials, which showed how badly they were needed this year, and will you finally see sense? Will you finally see sense and reinstate those credits to help people through these winter months?”

Sinn Féin TDs also accused the Government of abandoning the credits now that the general election is over.

In response, the Taoiseach told Mr Doherty that the Departments of Finance, Public Expenditure, and Social Protection would not have supported the “universality” of providing energy credits to all households.

He said the Government decided to “concentrate and prioritise our resources to those of the lowest incomes and those who will be most impacted by the energy price increases”.

“It's not fiscally sustainable to have one-off packages every single year for the next number of years.”

The Taoiseach further argued that the Government had expanded eligibility for fuel supports, with 26% of households now entitled to fuel allowance.