Pre-Budget Submission 2026 - Delivering an Equal and Inclusive Budget
Over the past five years, Ireland has faced unprecedented challenges – from a global pandemic to the cost-of-living crisis and welcoming over 112,000 refugees from the war in Ukraine. Irish households have borne the brunt, most acutely through spiralling energy costs. Electricity and gas tariffs remain 65% and 99% higher respectively than January 2021 levels.
While the Government acted swiftly with universal supports at the time, these measures are not sustainable in the long term and risk failing to target those with the greatest need.
SVP believes Ireland must now move towards a more strategic, evidence-led approach to social protection – one that benchmarks payments against independently assessed minimum needs.
We welcome the focus on child poverty in Budget 2025, but new measures must be rooted in evidence. The cost of raising a child increases significantly with age – current supports meet only 88% of needs for primary school children and just 64% for those in secondary school.
This year’s Pre-Budget Submission focuses on the key areas we believe will have the biggest impact on people experiencing poverty, social exclusion, and lost potential. Government must offer hope and show leadership based on human dignity, social justice, and equality.
