Days out from Budget 2026, the Government was holding firm on its line that there would not be a repeat of the one-off measures seen in recent years to address the rise in the cost of living.
The huge price hikes across the economy have been punctuated by severe increases in the amount households pay for their energy.
Since 2021 the cost of electricity has jumped 69%, while gas has more than doubled (+102%).
But those figures do not account for the latest raft of recent price increases from most suppliers, which kick in this month.
This means average yearly electricity bills, which were hovering around €1,200 in 2021, will be close to €1,900 before the end of the year.
In response to the sharp energy price rises, in the last three budgets the Government included one-off energy credits that knocked a significant chunk off people's winter electricity bills (€600 for 2023, €250 for both 2024 and 2025).
But today's Budget is not expected to yield any such energy credits.
The Government maintains such one-off supports are not sustainable and that a different approach is needed.
Various ministers have hinted at a shift in strategy, with a focus on permanent, targeted supports expected instead.
This is exactly what those representing the most vulnerable groups have been calling for.
One Family, which represents lone parents, has said it's critical that income inadequacy for one-parent families is addressed.
It sees expanding fuel-allowance access to one-parent families, increasing the rate of targeted payments such as Child Support Payment, and providing free childcare to lone parents returning to work or education as key to achieving this.
Another demographic acutely impacted by the jump in the cost of living is older people, especially those living alone.
Rising rents and higher energy prices are the main increases affecting them.
Research from the organisation representing this cohort, ALONE, worryingly indicates that more than a quarter of older people living alone are at risk of poverty.
It adds that this figure would almost double without the State's cost-of-living supports.
The message from ALONE is that older people living alone are most at risk by losing such payments.
It says significant increases in core welfare payments are needed in the budget to prevent a jump in the number of older people living alone who are in poverty.
Food prices still rising aggressively
Another worry for many is the sustained jump in food prices.
Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show food price inflation is running at more than double the rate of general inflation (5.1% vs 2% for the year to August).
This was the highest level of inflation for food prices in more than a year and a half.
But some food and drink products - including many staples - have seen much more severe price hikes.
Beef prices are up nearly a quarter in the past year, while milk, butter, cheese and even things like chocolate and coffee have all seen big double-digit percentage increases too.
Research published by Safefood suggests these rises are disproportionately affecting lower-income families.
It found that the average family of two parents on State benefits and two children, where the older child was in secondary school, had a total weekly food-basket cost of €198 - or 33% of their take-home income.
For a one-parent household relying on State benefits with two children of pre-school and primary school age, Safefood says their weekly basket costs €122 - or 28% of their take-home income.
This was 12% higher than if the adult was employed earning the national minimum wage.
Food and energy are just two areas where significant hikes are making life more challenging for a growing number of people.
But there are many more - fuel, insurance, clothing, and eating out, just to name a few.
Pressure building on Government to act
There is very clearly a huge number of people who need help, and urgently, with pressure coming on the Government from all quarters to address this in the Budget.
Opposition parties have outlined their own suggestions for what might help.
Sinn Féin is proposing a cost-of-living package of around €2.5 billion, which would include nearly €1 billion to provide for €450 in energy credits for every household.
People Before Profit also wants to see a repeat of the energy credits but said they should be funded by an additional tax on data centres.
While Labour and the Social Democrats are separately proposing targeted supports, including energy income-tax credits and energy credits based on household income.
However, bodies such as the Central Bank and Fiscal Advisory Council are already warning that, in the face of potential economic headwinds, the Government's Budget package is too large and want it paired back.
The big questions now are which of these competing interests will win out, and will the Government maintain its stance and swerve one-off supports in favour of what it deems to be more appropriate measures?
