Roscommon-Galway TD Claire Kerrane has launched a new survey today which aims to examine the reality of household debt and how it impacts peoples lives.
Deputy Kerrane said that we need to put household debt on the agenda and ‘ensure that it gets the serious attention that it deserves’.
“Over the last seven months, many people right across the State have lost their jobs and faced a sudden wipe-out of their income,” said the Sinn Féin TD.
“Thousands have been laid off temporarily and placed on an income below what they were earning pre-Covid.
“Households have seen their energy bills soar as they spend more time at home than usual.”
The Roscommon-Galway TD argued that supports introduced since Covid hit, such as the so-called ‘mortgage holiday’ did nothing but increase mortgage costs for families.
She said that workers and families have been under immense pressure and where they might have just been managing to get by before Covid, they are struggling now in an unprecedented way.
“Before we ever heard of Covid, Ireland had the fifth highest household debt in the EU. Yet, this has never been tackled by Government. It isn’t even talked about.”
The survey, which can be found HERE, also aims to examine what needs to change to give people the support they need.
“We need to support workers and families at this crucial time,” added Deputy Kerrane.
“Some may be struggling with day-to-day costs for the very first time. For others, life was already a financial struggle prior to Covid and the pandemic has only made it even harder.
“I am asking people to take part in my Household Debt survey so we can ascertain the true level of household debt and establish what needs to happen to address this.”
