Comment: A winter of discontent and disconnection in prospect

At time of going to print, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe was clearing his throat and about to deliver the details of Budget 2022 - a budget that is expected to deliver a €4.7 billion package with €1bn in new spending and half a billion euro in tax cuts.

Heading into Government Buildings today (Tuesday) Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the Budget measures needed to be framed against the events of the last 20 months and getting back to normal after the pandemic, helping people with the cost of childcare and accessing health care.

Accessing affordable childcare has been a nightmare for families across the county. This newspaper has carried multiple stories about difficulties in recruiting staff to the sector, the poor terms and conditions facing workers and the general under investment that threatens to close even more childcare settings.

Indications are that the childcare package in the Budget will see the State invest in services in return for assurances that fees will not be increased. It's hoped these measures which could cost an estimated €100m in 2022 will see improvements to pay and conditions for childcare workers and help the sustainability of the sector along with staff retention.

On the face of it there seems little to inspire parents here. There is already a chronic shortage of childcare places in Meath, particularly in the south of the county where the population is growing rapidly but facilities for childcare remain at a premium with two-three year waiting lists in places. There is little in the Budget details we have seen to address the fact that it still costs the equivalent of a second mortgage to have children cared for so the idea of a creche fees freeze will do little to assist those struggling to access and pay for this essential service.

And what of the general cost of living? Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said there will be a lot to help with the cost of living and, while no individual measure is very big, together they all will add up. To what?

First, the positives. There's expected to be an increase of €5 in the main weekly welfare payments and the State pension while the weekly fuel allowance payment is also set to rise by a fiver. Broadening of the means-test for the Carer's Allowance is welcome and not before time. An increase in the Back to School Allowance (€10) will help as will the proposed double payment of welfare allowances at Christmas.

However, all these 'gains' will come against the backdrop of a cold, difficult winter ahead for consumers who face staggering rises in costs to heat their homes and keep vehicles on the road.

On the forecourts, motorists, and particularly rural motorists and commuters are being bled dry as fuel continues to soar, diesel now tipping on average, €1.55 a litre! How many of us will be able to pay for a fill of our home heating oil tanks over the coming months when 200 litres of kerosene is - on this week's price - likely to set you back €190! And that's before a Carbon Tax spike announced today is expected to put 2.5c more on the cost of a litre of fuel.That measure alone, on top of the current eye-watering prices will set a driver filling a car with 50 litres a week back another €50 a year.

In the last two months nearly all the country's energy providers have hiked their prices by a staggering 10-15 per cent putting an average household bill up by €100-€200 per year, rendering much of what the Government are announcing meaningless for hard pressed families, especially those who may have no entitlement to the Budget measures above.

The way things are going it will be a winter of discontent and disconnections.

- This is the editorial published in the paper on Tuesday afternoon