Sinn Féin's finance spokesperson says measures being announced to ease the cost of living do not go far enough.

Pearse Doherty was speaking as the Government is announcing a package aimed at easing the burden on people amid rising prices.

Cabinet Ministers are signing off on several inflation-tackling measures.

It is expected they will include an increase in the electricity grant to each household, potentially doubling it to €200.

Other measures will look at the Fuel Allowance and will be more targeted at people who need the most help.

But Deputy Doherty told The Hard Shoulder even a doubling of of the electricity grant will not be enough.

"It's not enough, and it's probably just another example - if we ever needed one - that this Government is out of touch.

"They don't just get it, they don't understand where ordinary workers and families are at.

"We had announcement of part of that package last year, in terms of this €100 energy credit.

"They're trying to roll that in to re-announce it again today.

"In reality, I think the additionality is about somewhere just over €200m - and that's nowhere near enough, it will only scratch the surface.

"What we needed here was real ambitious coming forward from Government.

"We needed to deal with the issue of runaway rents, both in this city and indeed now across this State.

"The Government could freeze rents, but more important they could put a month's rent back into renters pockets - that's what we're arguing for."

Cash payments for all

And he has called for new cash payments to be given to people as part of the measures.

"So if you're earning below €30,000, each individual should get €200 payment.

"And if you're earning between €30,000 and €60,000 we believe that there should be €100 additional payment paid to you on top of the electricity credit".

He says he knows the Government can't solve everything.

"Nobody's suggesting that they can, but the least you would expect from this Government is they wouldn't make things worse.

"And that's why they need to stop the Carbon Tax increases that is planned for the 1st of May.

"That's going to push up the price of oil and push up the price of gas".

And he says while the country is not "at that level of crisis" as seen previously, there is room for more.

"We don't have the IMF or the Troika, but that's not to take away in any way the fact that people and their own finances are in crisis.

"That people are feeling really, really hard pressed as a result of this.

"So having a mini budget, having a social welfare package and having a number of tax raising measures doesn't need a major fiscal crisis.

"It just needs a Government to recognise where people are at and the need to respond".