Inflation has been one of the biggest news headlines over the past week Ireland, which has seen an overall 5.0% increase in consumer prices from January 2021 to January 2022. Last week the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Finance announced in this press release a €505 million package in measures to mitigate the cost of living, including (among other things):
- energy credit increased to €200 including VAT (a direct credit to consumers’ energy bills)
- fuel allowance lump sum payment of €125
- drug payment scheme reduction from €100 to €80
- 20% reduction in public transport fees from end of April until the end of the year
The Drug Payment Scheme reduction would directly benefit me, so I’m glad I signed up for it. I’m also not complaining about the one-time credit of €200 on my electricity bill — my combined bill for the two months of November and December was a whopping €391 (!). The likely culprits, other than the two electric radiators that heat my apartment, are the tumble clothes dryer (which I always try to run at night when electricity rates are cheaper), as well as kitchen appliances such as my mini-oven and air fryer that I use daily. Gasoline (“petrol”) has also skyrocketed to €1.70 per litre, or over $7.00 per gallon. The other day, a woman in her 30s who was interviewed on RTÉ public radio said she quit her job in Dublin due to the costs of commuting and child care; it made more sense financially for her to get a lower paying job closer to home in County Wicklow.
In other news, “Storm Eunice” is hitting Ireland tomorrow, resulting in the closure of schools and colleges to close in 9 of Ireland’s west and southwest counties — damaging winds, rain, sleet and ‘blizzard-like’ conditions are expected in many areas.
And last but not least, there’s been a breaking news story this evening about the lifting of mask mandates (borrowed from RTÉ): “Ireland’s National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has agreed that the requirement to wear masks in most areas, where currently regulated, should end. If accepted by Government, it would mean mandated mask wearing will no longer apply in schools, on public transport, taxis, in retail premises and in public offices. It would also no longer apply to staff in customer facing roles, such as restaurants and pubs. However, mask wearing will still be required in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes, given the nature of these settings and that some are still experiencing Covid-19 outbreaks.”
In personal news, I’ve been taking a week off work to decompress after the stress came to a crescendo last week. Without going into detail, suffice it to say that the pressure had been building up for awhile due to chronic understaffing on my team, and finally last Friday it crossed a line. I called out on Monday and made an appointment with my GP (primary care physician), who agreed I needed some time off and issued a certificate to provide to my employer. The week has felt like a throwback to last year when my days were largely unstructured and the future was less certain. I’ve been making good use of the time to practice self-care and focus on some personal projects. A few highlights:
- Got a haircut on Monday, which always makes me feel better;
- Obtained a Drivers License Eyesight Report from Specsavers, a chain of optometrist centres, that I need for my provisional Irish driver’s license (actually it’s technically a “learner’s permit”), which is the next step on the long saga to get a full driver’s license here;
- Found a good chiropractor who is helping to release some built-up tension in my back and hips; and
- Had a second interview with Mazars that seemed to go well; I’m expecting to hear back Monday-Tuesday next week.
Ireland is one of the few countries in the EU that does not currently mandate employers to provide sick pay. However, a bill has been recently introduced to remedy this public policy defect. Thankfully, I am entitled to 3 weeks paid sick leave during my first year with my employer.
Until next time…,
