The Taoiseach rules out further cost-of-living measures ahead of the budget

The Taoiseach has ruled out further action on the cost of living until budget time.

Icheál Martin said that talks on the 2023 budget have already started within the government on new measures and that any further cuts to support inflation or the rising cost of living will take place in October.

His comments come after Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told the Dáil earlier this week that childcare and public transport are “areas where we can do more”.

“We have entered into sought-after talks,” Mr Martin told reporters in Belfast.

“We have already introduced public transport fare reductions for both young people as a result of a budgetary decision and more laterally in the second package we have implemented in terms of fare reductions.

“The agenda now is to work towards a budgetary framework in terms of further action at budget time.”

Mr Varadkar told the Dáil yesterday that the government is “working on proposals in areas such as childcare and public transport”.

The government has already launched two cost-of-living packages, one of them in February, which increased the electricity credit to 200 euros, reduced public transport and a lump sum payment for poorer families of over 500 million euros.

Then, last month, it made further sales tax cuts and lowered the excise tax on labeled gasoil.

Sinn Féin has been pushing for a mini-budget to help families unable to heat their homes or pay bills.

Mr Varadkar told Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty there were areas where the government “can help and do more” such as childcare and the cost of public transport, adding “we are working on proposals in those areas”.