The Government has been accused of “bribing” the electorate with a series of one-off extra payments next month at a time when it is believed the public will go to the polls.
Social Democrat TD Cian O’Callaghan said the payments, including a double child benefit payment, fuel allowance payment, carers’ payments and living alone allowance will all be made over November and December.
The Dublin TD said it was a “blatant attempt to buy” an election.
“Government parties are cock-a-hoop with this schedule, because it’s right around when most of us expect to be going to the polls,” he told the Dáil.
“I think their glee will be short-lived because bribery is a bad look. And has there ever been a more blatant attempt to buy an election?
“While these payments will certainly be welcome, they won’t last very long. By the new year, they will be long gone, and what supports will be available to people as prices continue to rise? Very few.
“You had a record surplus at your disposal, and all you managed to do was to tinker around the edges.
“Where was the plan to deliver thousands of affordable homes? Or a public model of child care that’s successful and affordable for parents, a quality disability service that children can actually access when they need them or tackled the huge waiting lists in our health service.
“All of this was absent.”
Taoiseach Simon Harris denied it was “bribery”, saying that it was a cost-of-living package for the “here and now”.
The Fine Gael leader said he stands by every decision made in the budget.
“I make no apologies for giving people a little bit of their own money back,” he added.
“You can tell me which ones [payments] you’re against because I’m fed up with this. I’m fed up with this smearing and scoffing. Tell me which of the payments you don’t want, please, and let me know.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil failed to deliver for carers in Budget 2025. The means test for benefits for Carers must be scrapped!
Sinn Féin is committed to improving the quality of life of the most vulnerable, including carers, children and people with disabilities. pic.twitter.com/TZJZesSIlNAdvertisement— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) October 8, 2024
“If any other opposition parties do, email me. I’d really like to hear from you in relation to that, because I stand by every single decision we made in the budget last week.
“It provided a cost-of-living package in the here and now, over €2 billion of people’s own money. Quite right. It’s not bribery. It’s called listening to people and delivering, it’s called acting on what they said. Give us a little bit of help, Simon, help us.”
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin leader called for Mr Harris to bring forward a decision to increase the carer’s allowance means test.
Under Budget 2025, the carer’s allowance means test limits will increase to €625 per week for a single person and €1,250 per week for a couple.
It comes into effect in July, but Mary Lou McDonald called for it to be made effective from January.
“Caring is work done with love, but it is work. It’s 24/7 every day, every night, non-stop. Carers don’t get to clock out. They keep going,” Ms McDonald said.
“The work they do saves the state billions, yet there’s very little recognition from the state, and for many, there is no recognition at all.
“The carer’s allowance is means-tested. That means test must be abolished. In your budget last week, you allocated just €11 million to relax the means test.
“Instead of making carers wait until July, will you ensure that the Social Welfare Bill delivers the threshold increases for carer’s allowance from January.”
Mr Harris said there was more work to do in relation to eligibility for carer’s allowance, adding that a working group is assessing the area around means testing of payments to family carers.
He said a report will be produced by the end of the year.
“I know that is an important moment, and something that carers representative organisations have looked for as well,” he added.
“There is a recognition that there needs to be changes in relation to the means test. “
