Senior members of the Government will meet to finalise the details of a cost of living this evening. 

The measures will then be unveiled after receiving Cabinet approval on Tuesday.  

The VAT rate on the hospitality sector is expected to rise from 9% to 13.5% and Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has hinted there could be further one-off social welfare payments. 

“We did have a very comprehensive package of measures for Budget 2023 and I want to be honest, I want to be straight with people, that the scale of these measures will be considerably less,” she said. 

"Having said that, we will be able to give that helping hand to those that need it most."

M512AG Social Welfare Inspector office opening hours sign in Dunmanway, County Cork, Ireland.

Sinn Féin’s Claire Kerrane said those reliant on social welfare have been most impacted by the soaring cost of living. 

“The devil will be in the detail tomorrow but it is clear that the Minister does need to move and part of this package to be announced, does need to include additional supports for people that are reliant on social welfare,” Deputy Kerrane said. 

“Remember, they are family carers, they are disabled people, they are pensioners and they are people that have really struggled - as have others - but they have really struggled on fixed incomes throughout this cost of living crisis.”

Main image: A pensioner holding euro coins in his hands. Picture by: Weyo / Alamy Stock Photo