The Cost-of-Living Coalition has said the Government must use the Budget surplus to “bring people out of poverty”.

The group protested outside Leinster House this afternoon, calling for measures to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis. 

Earlier this month, it was revealed the Government expects an €11.4 billion surplus in the upcoming Budget 2024. 

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said this “unprecedented” surplus should be put to good use. 

"[For the] people and parents who are forced to go to food banks to get food for their kids, this is a make-or-break budget,” he said. 

We were delighted to attend the press call outside the Dail for the @COLCIreland press call.

We were delighted to have the gang from @InclusionIre with us this morning and Paul spoke with passion around the barriers we face as a community in todays society and the need for… pic.twitter.com/eq1hhW3dJN

— Access For All Ireland (@AccessForAll7) July 12, 2023

“For the Government in those circumstances to choose not to bring people out of poverty...will be a really disastrous decision. 

“We need price controls on the essential goods, on groceries, on energy... we need increases in social welfare payments at least equal to the rate of inflation.” 

Protest

The Cost-of-Living Coalition previously announced a pre-Budget protest on October 7th.  

Independent TD Joan Collins said this protest is “an opportunity to come out and show the Government your ire”. 

“We’re calling for a minimum wage of €15 an hour and we’re demanding that the Government respond decently in the next Budget from the point of view of increases,” she said. 

Students

UCD Students' Union spokesperson Miranda Bauer said the protest is particularly important for students who are struggling financially. 

“A lot of students can't pay rent, they sometimes can't afford food after paying rent,” she said. “We see a lot of them after college, they want to emigrate because of this.” 

“It's one of the most pressing issues at the moment for them.”