Wait until next budget for help with cost of living, Taoiseach says
The Taoiseach has said the country must wait until the next budget for the cost-of-living crisis to be comprehensively addressed.
Micheál Martin said the October budget will make a substantial difference to those experiencing economic hardship but all but ruled out further measures over the summer.
Speaking in the wake of several street protests over price rises, Mr Martin said the cost of living was not something that could be chased from month to month.
In an interview on Newstalk, Mr Martin said the summer economic statement would be the key next milestone in relation to the budget and the cost-of-living issue as it would “lay out what is available in terms of funds”.
The Government is due to begin a series of meetings with key stakeholders from today to discuss the upcoming budget.
The talks come amid rising pressure for State action regarding the rising cost of living.
Over the weekend, cost of living protests were staged across the country, with demonstrators calling for a 'mini budget' to provide additional reports to aid those struggling under the burden of spiralling costs.
Almost one third of Irish consumers to cut back on spending due to inflation
Almost one third (32 per cent) of Irish consumers plan to cut back on spending in the next three months due to inflation driving the cost of living up, according to a new survey.
PwC's Consumer Insight Pulse Survey 2022, which captures the views of over 9,000 consumers across 25 countries including over 500 in Ireland, also found spending in a number of areas will increase.
Many Irish consumers are happy to pay a higher price for local produce, while in-store shopping remains key to the Irish consumer, the survey found.
Over a third (36 per cent) of Irish consumers say that recent price increases are impacting their purchasing affordability to 'a great extent'.
A further 58 per cent say this affordability is impacted to 'some extent'. Thirty-five per cent of respondents confirmed that they are working in a hybrid way while 57 per cent are required to be physically located at their workplace.
Study finds more young adults say they are depressed after the pandemic
Young adults have reported poorer mental health after the Covid-19 pandemic, according to new ESRI research produced in partnership with the Department of Children.
Using data from the Growing Up in Ireland Covid-19 survey carried out in December 2020, the findings show that four-in-ten 22-year-old men and 55 per cent of 22-year-old women were classified as depressed.
These were much higher figures than two years previously when 22 per cent of men and 31 per cent of women were depressed.
Poorer mental health during the pandemic reflected the disruption to young adults’ employment, career progression, education and social activities.
Just before the pandemic hit, 63 per cent of these 22-year-olds were in full-time education or training and so shifted to remote learning.
However, around half did not have access to adequate broadband and a quiet place to study, and less than one third (30 per cent) received regular feedback on their work.
Graham Dwyer appeal against murder conviction may be heard later this year
Graham Dwyer's appeal against his conviction for the murder of childcare worker Elaine O'Hara could be heard in the autumn of this year, the Court of Appeal (CoA) has said.
Dwyer (49) was handed a significant boost in April when the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the indiscriminate retention of mobile phone data for use in criminal investigations is a breach of EU law.
Phone data was a crucial part of the evidence against Dwyer as it was used to track his movements and contacts with Ms O'Hara in the lead-up to and aftermath of her disappearance in August 2012.
