Nearly eight out of 10 Irish people are struggling to pay monthly household bills like gas and electricity, a shock Irish Mirror cost of living survey reveals.
And almost 70% are using hot water bottles to stay warm at night because they can’t afford to turn on their heating.
More than half of respondents in our nationwide survey are under pressure over monthly mortgage payments.
READ MORE: Mum-of-four calls for food vouchers to help struggling families with cost of living crisis
Reacting to the findings of our survey, Taoiseach Micheál Martin warned people to brace themselves for further increases in their energy bills.
But Mr Martin vowed that the upcoming Budget will help working families.
He said: “We are very aware how much an impact the rising cost of living is having on families right across Ireland.
“The immoral and unprecedented war in Ukraine has made heating our homes, food, and filling up our cars more and more expensive, and it is likely energy costs will only rise as we move towards Winter.
“So, the Government is determined to come up with a comprehensive package of measures in the Budget - to not only help alleviate the pressure on people this year, but next year too.”
He said the Government has already taken a number of steps to try and help Irish households which cost the State €2.4 billion so far including cutting the cost of public transport, reducing excise duties and VAT on fuel.
He added: “And we will continue to act to help worried families and parents respond to the challenge of rising prices, in a comprehensive and targeted way without making inflation even worse.
“This Budget will be a cost of living budget, which will focus on areas where people most need help.
“On housing, on childcare, to help out working parents, on public transport and healthcare costs.
“We must be careful to use our resources to target the most vulnerable, and target housing needs, childcare, health and education.
“The Budget will help working families, and it will be sustainable to protect jobs and livelihoods.
“Ireland has already acted more quickly and thoroughly than many countries impacted by the rising cost of living.
“We are now working to ensure we protect the most vulnerable to meet the challenges ahead.”
The startling figures show that 52% of 2,300 respondents are struggling to pay their mortgage at the end of the month with 76% dipping into savings to cover the cost of bills.
It comes as Tanáiste Leo Varadkar has admitted the country could be grappling with the cost-of-living crisis for years.
He told the Dáil on Thursday: “The cost of living crisis is happening right here, right now and it will happen all the way through to the budget and will continue after the budget.
“That’s the truth of it, we’re facing a global inflation crisis and it won’t end because of any budget, whether it’s an emergency budget before the autumn or whether it’s one in autumn.
“This is something we’re going to be grappling with for months if not years ahead.”
Our online survey and findings collated by our data unit was conducted between May 16 and June 10 - while the Government faced intense pressure to give further assistance to households since their last intervention in April, when they cut the VAT rate on energy bills.
Nearly two-fifths (37%) had seen their monthly energy bill go up by €50-€100.
It went up €100-150 for more than a third (35%) and 17% said it increased by €150-200
Just over a tenth saw an increase of €200-300 and the majority, (56%) said the Government’s €200 energy credit had not helped with just 44% saying it had.
Almost 20% of respondents said they had taken up a second job to cover costs.
Out of the 939 people who said they require childcare, the average person said they spend €701 per month on childcare.
One quarter (24%) had stopped paying for childcare to help with the cost of living with several respondents stating they depend on their elderly parents.
And nearly one fifth (17%) said someone in their household had left their job to take care of children.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has called for cash payments for low and middle income families to cope with spiralling household bills.
She said the findings of our cost of living survey “make for shocking reading.”
She said: "The fact that 77% of people are struggling to pay monthly bills is an utter disgrace.
“The fact that people are paying on average over €700 per month on childcare is entirely unacceptable - this is a second mortgage for most families.”
Ms McDonald said cash payments for low and middle income families are needed to help people get through the months ahead given the Taoiseach is warning of further energy increases.
She said: “We have to cut rents and freeze them; including putting a month’s rent back into renters’ pockets via a refundable tax credit.
“We need to cut childcare costs by two thirds, as they are far too expensive.
“We must cut the price of petrol and heating further.
“And we must increase core social welfare rates to ensure the most vulnerable in society are protected from price rises.
“All of this can be done if the political will exists to do so.
"The government cannot keep ignoring this crisis and the huge pressures people are under.
“The time to act is now."
Out of the 2,300 respondents, more than half (52%) have struggled to pay their rent or mortgage at the end of the month while one quarter (25%) have missed a payment.
Two-fifths (39%) have asked family and friends for financial help while around the same number have used a credit card to pay for bills (38%).
The most common way readers are cutting costs is to stay at home more, with almost all (88%) saying they had done so.
More than four-fifths (83%) have cancelled social activities.
A majority of people also said they were eating less healthily (64%), spending less on their children (58%) and have had to choose between food and heating (53%).
People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said people are being “plunged into depression” as they are mentally impacted by the cost of living crisis.
He said: “It’s a really shameful indictment of our society which is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and here we have hot water bottles to keep warm because they can’t afford to pay their heating bills.
“Many people are being plunged into depression, mental illness as a result of the pressure that is being put on and it’s a shameful neglect of children.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has repeatedly said the Government can’t chase inflation and is fearful of adding further to inflation if it tries to match price increases.
Mr Boyd Barrett rubbished this claim and said: “It’s about keeping people at a level of dignified existence - that’s not going to fuel inflation.
“It’s hard to understand why the Government won’t act sooner because there is scope. There has been a huge bonanza of additional tax revenues because as prices go up, much of the Government revenue comes up through VAT and taxes.
“This is just about keeping people’s heads above water.”
Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns has said the cost of life crisis is now out of control, but it is being ignored by a government whose heads remain firmly in the sand.
She said: “The results of this survey are deeply concerning and demonstrate just how many people are really struggling to get by.
“People cannot wait until October for relief.
“As it stands, all of the indications are that things are getting worse and the time for the Dáil to imminently act is running out.
“We have the capacity and the ability to introduce measures that would provide much-needed assistance to those who can no longer make ends meet.
“We must work together and introduce those measures before the Dáil rises for the summer.”
*Data compiled by Clara Murray - Reach Ireland data unit.
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