Latest news with #Budget2026
RTÉ News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Rise in number of people recorded as homeless last month
The number of men, women and children experiencing homelessness increased in May compared to the previous month. Latest figures from the Department of Housing show 15,747 adults and children were accessing emergency accommodation. The figure is up from 15,580 in April. The number of children is 4,844 - up from 4,775, while the number of adults increased to 10,903 from 10,805. Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said the figures show "the Government's current approach to homelessness is failing". "There needs to be far more urgency in the Government's response to help end this terrible human crisis," he added. The charity's CEO called on the Government to reform the Housing Assistance Payment scheme and "must deliver a radical policy shift to provide a range of housing". 'We just heard this week that the new Housing and Homelessness Plan is now delayed until at least September," Mr Dennigan said. "We need action now and there are some actions the Government could take immediately to improve the situation," he added. The Dublin Simon Community said that while a housing crisis may be on the political agenda, "its most devastating consequence - homelessness - remains overlooked". It added that "there is doubt as to whether the Government cares about addressing the instability, harsh and immediate realities" of the homeless figures. The Dublin Simon Community CEO said "stability must be at the forefront in addressing the chaotic housing market with chronic shortages". "All eyes are now focused on a housing plan and Budget 2026 as to what it will provide as incentives to kickstart a greater housing supply in a market that has plateaued," Catherine Kenny said. "As the new rental rules will do little to help those stuck in emergency accommodation, the next national housing plan, due in a few weeks, must bring meaningful measures for those who are experiencing homelessness," she added. 'Shameful milestone' Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats said the rising homeless figures were a result of Government failures. Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó'Broin said the increase in child homelessness figures over the decade "is the direct result of the failure of Government to deliver a sufficient volume of social and affordable homes". The Social Democrats housing spokesperson called the child homelessness figures "a shameful milestone". Rory Hearne said the figures are a "direct result of policy choices made by the Government", adding such failures are "intolerable and inexcusable". "The state could be facing a national redress scheme for children who have been in emergency accommodation," he said.
The Star
21 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
MCA urges transparency, fair access to public varsities
KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Malaya should postpone its intake under its Saluran Terbuka Universiti Awam (Satu) and suspend the planned fee hike for its Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and other courses, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. Raising concerns over affordability and fairness in public medical education, Dr Wee urged the Higher Education Ministry to act to protect students from low- and middle-income families, particularly those unable to secure places through the Unit Pusat Universiti (UPU) system. (The UPU is a centralised government admission platform used by Malaysia's public universities, while Satu is an alternative pathway for students to apply directly to UM.) 'We are calling for an immediate halt to the Satu intake until all issues are clarified. The proposed RM500,000 fee for the 2025/2026 MBBS intake is alarming and must be postponed,' Dr Wee said. Other steep hikes for critical courses should also be withheld, he told a press conference at Wisma MCA yesterday. The MCA also released a paper titled 'Two Channels, One Future: Ensuring Fair Access to Universiti Malaya's Medical Programmes and Other Critical Courses' which is available online. According to student unions, tuition fees for the MBBS programme will go up to RM500,000 for the 2025/2026 intake. This is a 67% increase compared to the 2024/2025 session. Dr Wee said the rising financial burden and the lack of transparency in public university admissions are national issues affecting all Malaysians. The MCA outlined five key recommendations to the government to safeguard access for students from B40 and M40 families. First, it called for a freeze on Satu intakes and fee increases, along with an independent audit of Satu's cost structure to justify the disparities compared to other public and private institutions. The party also sought full disclosure of the rationale behind the fee hike. 'We need a clear explanation. Without transparency, medical education risks becoming a privilege for the wealthy,' Dr Wee said. Second, MCA is urging greater openness in admissions. It wants a breakdown of student intakes by qualification – such as Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), matriculation, foundation and diploma – for competitive programmes like medicine. It also called for the UPU's CGPA standardisation algorithm to be published, along with annual reports on Satu and UPU admissions and resource allocation. To address limited seats, the third recommendation called for an expansion of subsidised UPU intakes for medicine and other essential fields, with a reallocation of resources in Budget 2026 and the 13th Malaysia Plan to prioritise healthcare and education. 'Over-reliance on fee-paying students via Satu undermines the role of public universities,' Dr Wee said. Fourth, MCA proposed governance reforms for the dual admission system, including independent oversight of Satu to curb commercialisation and uphold merit-based entry. It also suggested capping fee-paying seats in flagship programmes. Lastly, Dr Wee said the UPU assessment framework must be reviewed to ensure fairness for STPM students, taking into account the academic rigours and duration of the programme. 'These students deserve fair treatment. The system should not penalise them for choosing a more demanding path,' he added.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Latest Budget 2026 blow with ‘won't repeat' €2.6bn social welfare cost of living alert amid €140 Child Benefit shake-up
THERE will be no multibillion euro cost of living busting package of support for households in the upcoming budget due to concerns that a Trump slump will wipe out Ireland's corporation taxes. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe confirmed Budget 2026 "will not repeat" another €2.2 billion of living package, saying past budgets introduced measures when inflation was at highs of five, 10 or 15 per cent. 4 Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, Tanaiste Simon Harris and Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers Credit: Cillian Sherlock/PA Wire 4 Taoiseach Micheal Martin also ruled out a repeat of the bonanza cost-of-living package Credit:The Government has instead this year leaned more towards the possible Donohoe said he is "well aware" of the impact of the cost of living crisis but said there are risks when it comes to funding permanent measures with tax receipts that may not always be available in the future. With concerns that Trump's tariffs could wreak havoc on the Irish economy, Donohoe warned that there will be no repeat of the cost of living supports of the past. This is despite the Dail hearing yesterday how skyrocketing grocery prices is leaving people struggling to keep their heads above water. READ MORE IN MONEY Speaking to RTE's Morning Ireland, Donohoe said: "I'm absolutely well aware of the impact of the "I see it and I experience that. I know the difficulty it poses for many, for very many in our country." He added: "What every budget has done is it finds different ways of helping with the cost of living. "But I have to make the case again here today that the kind of measures that we've had in the past of €2.5 billion packages. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN "Packages of that scale were in place when we had inflation of five, 10, 15 percent. And we should not and I believe will not repeat that again. Major warning over emergency social welfare scam texts as thousands could be targeted "But we will find other ways, budget by budget and over four to five budgets instead, helping with and responding back to the needs within our society." The Budget 2025 package - the - was made up of a mixture of increased payments, 10 for social welfare recipients, a minimum wage increase and tax changes. It included two double payments handed out before Christmas, €400 extra for carers and €300 for those on Budget 2025 also provided an additional October cost-of-living double payment as well as the usual social welfare Christmas bonus. But Donohoe and Public Expenditure Minister previously admitted that they are reluctant to make any spending or taxation decisions in Budget 2026 that "create new risks". This means that the social welfare bonus payments and energy credits of recent budgets will not be a feature of this year's budget announcements. ECONOMY 'CHALLENGES' Sinn Fein's In response, Tanaiste Simon Harris claimed the Government were already helping people with the cost of living through measures like the carers grant, the back to school allowance and the pay increase for public sector workers – all of which will be paid out over the summer. The Fine Gael leader admitted that there will be no repeat of the support packages of recent budgets but there will be moves to help people cope with the cost of living through different measures that are currently up for negotiation. Donohoe said there are "challenges" ahead for the Irish economy as price hikes, "recessionary trends" and the He said different scenarios for the Irish economy - where tariffs were and were not permanently applied by the US - have been taken into account. Anything we do in this space needs to be targeted and focused on those on low incomes, particularly workers." Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary Donohoe explained: "What we remain to see yet is what the United States assessment will be, which is why it's important that we have surplus in our public finances and we have so many people at work. "These are the kind of challenges that we could need to confront but I have confidence that we can do that." Taoiseach of the €2.6 billion cost-of-living package unveiled in 2025. He declared: "Our agenda and objective in the budget, when it comes in the autumn, will be again to provide within the social protection payment programme and in terms of taxation, to do what we can to alleviate the pressures on people." 'TARGETED' BUDGET EFFORTS The news of a more cautious budget comes as Minister for Social Protection He vowed that any changes made to the The Fianna Fail TD said the Programme for Government includes a "range of measures" to support children and their families in Budget 2026. He explained: "One such commitment is to explore a targeted child benefit payment and examine the interaction this would have with existing targeted supports to reduce child poverty. "Existing supports include the Calleary said the Department of Social Protection is examining a targeted 'OUT OF CONTROL' PRICING By GRAINNE Ni AODHA THE "crazy" increase in the cost of everyday food items has been raised in the Dail, as the opposition accused the Government of being inactive on the issue. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said that in the past year, butter had become a euro more expensive, a kilo of Irish cheddar was up 57 cents, and two litres of milk was up 27 cents. She cited figures in the Irish Times that indicated a kilo of chicken had cost €4.99 euro in 2022 and now costs €11. "That's just crazy," she said, telling the Dail that prices were "out of control". "Many households are now paying 3,000 euros extra a year in the supermarket than they were in 2021." She accused the Government of having "failed to exert any real pressure" on retailers, after a junior minister handling the issue was "unceremoniously ignored". The Dublin Central TD blasted: "Your latest plan, it seems, is to do absolutely nothing, to stick your head in the sand, allow people to be ripped off week in and week out. "Let me just give you some more CSO data - over five years, sugar is up 54 per cent. "A filet of cod, up 55 per cent, pork sausages 21 per cent, lamb 48 per cent, spaghetti up 46 per cent. "Nothing has changed, people are still to the pin of their collar." He explained: "Táimid ag obair ar an two-tier payment. We are looking at that but there is quite a lot of work involved and it is a complex issue to examine." The The €140 flat payment will still be paid to everyone, regardless of income. Calleary said the Department of Social Protection needs to work "collectively" with other Government Departments to ensure there are no "unintended consequences" as a result of the payment. He explained: "If we are to do this, people cannot lose out. We have to look at expanding the working family payment and the child support payment as part of targeted measures. "Anything we do in this space needs to be targeted and focused on those on low incomes, particularly workers. "We have to ensure that people do not get a lower payment under a new system than they are currently getting. "That could be an unintended consequence of some of the work we have seen today." 'EXPANSIONARY PACKAGE' Tanaiste Simon Harris told colleagues that the Budget will be an "expansionary package" and most of the measures will take effect next January. Speaking at Wednesday's Although nothing has been confirmed and Harris said decisions have yet to be made, he told the meeting that the VAT rate for small businesses will be cut permanently in the Budget. He also said childcare fees must be permanently reduced over the lifetime of this government. Harris also said the cost of education, across all levels, must be reduced along with healthcare costs, and significant progress should be made in children's disability services and special education. 4 Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe said the specific cost of living package seen in past budgets were when inflation was higher Credit: REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne 4 Donohoe said there are 'challenges' ahead for the Irish economy Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Budget 2026 to be 'expansionary package' with most measures coming in January
Budget 2026 is set to be an 'expansionary package', with most measures poised to take effect from January next year. Speaking at Wednesday's Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, Tánaiste Simon Harris said that while no decisions have been made yet on Budget 2026, it will be an expansionary package. He said one normal Budget will be announced in October, which will be responsible and responsive, with most of the measures taking effect from next January. Although nothing is confirmed, the Government is signalling a focus on reducing education and healthcare costs, cutting childcare fees, and permanently lowering the VAT rate for small businesses. The Fine Gael leader said he and his party colleagues remembered very well what it canvassed on at the last General Election. He said the VAT rate for small businesses will be reduced permanently. Mr Harris said childcare fees for many families are like a second mortgage and these costs must be permanently reduced over the lifetime of this Government. He said the cost of education, across all levels, must be reduced along with healthcare costs, and significant progress should be made in children's disability services and special education. The Fine Gael leader also said he fully supported the calls by Deputies Michael Murphy and Micheál Carrigy that all the country post offices, which provide a vital service to communities everywhere, be supported to the tune of €15 million annually for the next five years. Current State Aid funding ceases at the end of this year. The meeting also heard the revised National Development Plan will come before Cabinet next month. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Government has 'left households to feel the pain' of rising food prices, says Sinn Féin
The Government has been accused of "bull and bluster" and abandoning households as food prices continue to soar. Mary Lou McDonald said the Government is content with sticking its head in the sand as people at the checkouts are being "ripped off week-in, week-out". She accused Micheál Martin of being out of touch and said: "Does the Taoiseach do his weekly shop? No, he does not." The Sinn Féin leader recalled when, in May 2023, then-junior minister Neale Richmond gave the major supermarket groups a six-week ultimatum to bring down the cost of groceries. "That was 110 weeks ago," Ms McDonald said, telling the Dáil that Mr Richmond failed to exert any real pressure and was unceremoniously ignored leading to an ever-worsening situation for shoppers. "That single, limp intervention was the entirety of the government's efforts to tackle runaway food prices. You couldn't get the job done so you just walked away, and left households to feel the pain," she said. The impact of rising prices at the supermarket till dominated Leaders Questions following a PwC report which showed over 70% of consumers are either extremely or very concerned about the cost of food. The Government was criticised for saying there would be no cost-of-living measures included in October's budget while households continue to struggle. Price gouging Cian O'Callaghan told the Dáil that working parents are going without meals to ensure their children are fed and pensioners are leaving items behind at the checkout that they can no longer afford. Amid fears of price gouging by supermarkets, the Social Democrats' deputy leader called on the Government to require all supermarket chains and retailers to publish detailed and full accounts of their profits. "People are handing more than €10bn per year to supermarkets to buy food for their families, so why is there not full transparency about profits?" Mr O'Callaghan asked. Mr Martin defended the Government's record on tackling cost-of-living issues citing a report from the Think Tank for Action on Social Change (TASC) which said without the temporary supports such as energy credits and lump-sum welfare payments, Ireland's at-risk-of-poverty rate would have increased to 14% in 2023 but instead it fell to 11.7%. He added that Budget 2026 will focus on sustainable long-term measures with a particular emphasis on child poverty.
