People most in need due to the cost of living crisis are to get further financial support in the Budget, a Cabinet Minister has indicated.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys also admitted that a lot of people who are working are also struggling to make ends meet.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Minister Humphreys said she would target those most in need.
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She said: “There should be nobody in this country that can’t put bread on the table.
“I’m always going to be looking for support and as I said for [the] Budget, that will target those most in need, that’s something I will do.
“We know it’s difficult out there and people are facing choices that they have to make in terms of their income.”
When put to her that middle income earners are now also struggling with the rising cost of living crisis, Minister Humphreys encouraged people to make contact with a community welfare officer.
She told the Irish Mirror: “I know it’s difficult.
“What I’m saying for specific instances where people are finding themselves in huge difficulty, the community development officer is there, social protection is there, whether you’re on a social welfare payment or whether you’re working and there’s a lot of people out there that are working and need that bit of help and that’s why we are here for.
“We’re here to help people when they need that helping hand so those payments, supports are there.
“I’d encourage anybody that’s in difficulty to pick up the phone, have that conversation.
“For people who find themselves in really difficult circumstances, we have essential needs payment to an urgent needs payment, that is the State’s safety net for anybody that finds themselves in difficulty.”
However, Sinn Fein’s social protection spokeswoman Claire Kerrane said some working people who are struggling can’t get assistance.
She told the Irish Mirror: “A carer I’m aware of applied for an Exceptional Needs Payment last week.
“Her husband is on about €320 per week and they needed help with a fill of oil.
“They were refused because they got it last year and are over the means.
“While it is usually a one-off payment people shouldn’t be refused because they got it before.
“There needs to be flexibility.”
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