The comments came after Taoiseach Micheál Martin ruled out a specific cost of living package in the next budget.

Munster statistics provided to The Echo by the children’s charity show that 18% of respondents had to cut back or go without food over the past six months,

A ‘Cost of Living Report’, compiled by the University College Cork Students’ Union, and launched yesterday at the university asked over 3,000 participants if they had cut back on expenditure due to cost-of-living increases.

He said that the LPC report “will be brought to Government and we will have to give it very serious consideration”, but he added that “we are also aware of growing challenges many small businesses are facing at the moment in keeping jobs, staying viable, and staying open”

Since May 2024, child benefit has been extended to 18-year-olds in full-time education or with a disability following changes introduced by Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys.

The decreases, in both the unit rate and standing charge, equate to a saving of €12.73 per month on the average electricity bill and €9.27 per month on the average gas bill.

Concubhar Ó Liatháin looks ahead to today's budget and breaks down what could be announced across the key sectors of concern among the general public

It’s not an exaggeration to say that people are going without three meals a day to pay extortionate bills.

“For so many workers and families, the spike in interest costs is too much to bear as they deal with a wider cost-of-living crisis," Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said.

The survey, supported by Permanent TSB, asked Cork Chamber members to share their experiences through the most recent business quarter, their outlook for the third quarter of 2023 and business priorities for the upcoming Budget 2024.

Mr McGrath made the comments while speaking to reporters in Cork on Friday.

Sheila Crowley (93) was announced as the winner of the €1,000 home heating voucher from Hidden Hearing in recent days. 

Former Lord Mayor of Cork city, Ken O’Flynn, has criticised the Government’s decision not to intervene legislatively in reducing the cost of groceries.

Penny Dinners has donated 36 dresses and 24 pairs of shoes to help Cork families in need as many struggle with the costs of the special day. 

He said he is alarmed to hear reports that oil and energy companies are recording “record profits while consumers are being forced to bear the burden of the energy crisis through exorbitant prices.” 

“It’s a big jump. Our rates, which were very high for us, doubled last June when our contract finished."

Vice-principal of North Monastery Primary School on North Monastery Road, Colin Daly said he is delighted to hear the programme will be rolled out in all Deis schools.

The total cost of the social protection measures is over 400 million euro

The presence of industry giants in Cork is believed to have greatly benefitted the Cork economy in recent years as the average disposable income per person averaged at €23,856

The proprietors have announced on social media that they had to close

Darragh Bermingham hears how a Ballycotton offshore wind project will help tackle climate change and achieve net-zero for Ireland

Councillor Danny Collins, who owns the Boston Bar in Bantry, said rural pubs have been “left behind” by the Government’s Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme

The Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys is due to bring proposals before the Cabinet this week which would see social welfare linked to people’s past earnings

The average age of a house in the Rebel city comes in at 45 years old, followed by Limerick City, where the average house age is 38

The issue has become a live controversy since Socialist Party and Solidarity TD for Cork North Central Mick Barry raised it at Leaders Questions with Tánaiste Leo Varadkar last Thursday

The business group also wants more progress on the made on the various apartment developments in the city centre

He also called for a 7.5% reduction in excise duty in 2023 which he said would cost the exchequer roughly €92.5 million

Childcare costs are proving a real struggle for Cork families

The drastic measures were taken after a number of older people resorted to leaving off their power to avoid outrageous electricity bills

Michael O’Donovan, who owns South Main Street's Castle Inn, said the VFI was calling on Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to put in place a substantial package of financial measures to help pubs survive the winter.

Speaking at the Cost of Living demonstration in the city centre on Saturday, Sinéad Roche, Communications and Engagement Officer with UCC’s Student Union, said that every year there are students who struggle to find affordable accommodation.

“We changed our electricity supplier, and they haven’t billed us yet. We are dreading it," said one principal

ESB Group have reported €390 million in profit for the first half of this year after tax and exceptional items - almost triple the €128 million recorded in the same period in 2021.

The revelation was made by the coordinator of Cobh’s recently formed Cost of Living Coalition Anne McShane, who has been visiting homes to determine the human impact of the cost of living crisis

A TD is currently paid €101,193. This would rise to nearly €108,000 a year, but some TDs have chosen to forgo recent rises

While a second household energy credit has been promised before the end of the year, Cork retailers are wondering about the impact on disposable incomes and festive lights for the Christmas season.

The Cork Cost of Living Campaign has united opposition TDs, anti-poverty campaigners, housing campaigners, student unions, trade unionists, disability-rights campaigners, and others. They have organised a protest in the city for Saturday, September 17.

He would not be drawn on whether the Government will consider capping energy prices.

It comes as the Government was given a ‘C’ grade for its performance on climate and the environment

It comes amid a cost-of-living crisis aggravating struggles for families across Cork

Gerry Garvey of SVP told The Echo that many lower-paid workers are falling between two stools as they are unable to access social protection supports.

The Fianna Fáil leader insisted progress is also being made on housing, despite the impact of Covid-19 during his time in Government

The increased demand has coincided with rising concerns about the cost of living and back-to-school costs, with people seeking the State’s money advice and budgeting service financial and budgeting assistance

Rising inflation has also led to a new demographic of people who have sought assistance with back-to-school costs this summer from the Society of St Vincent de Paul for the first time ever

“By failing to address the matter urgently we are losing our competitiveness to recruit nurses and midwives from overseas and driving nurses and midwives in the current services to consider moving abroad.”

Eir recently announcement that fixed line charge bills will increase by €5 a month from August 1 this year

The elderly rights activist has voiced his support for calls for minimum increases of €20 to the State pension, the living alone allowance, and the fuel allowance in Budget 2023.

Caitríona Twomey, who runs Cork Penny Dinners, says she has been inundated with messages from parents desperate to see their children equipped with supplies before they return to school in September. 

The Children’ Rights Alliance is calling for urgent action to address the issue. 

The majority of childcare fees are set to remain at rates that were in place in September last year