Opposition hit out at price of goods in Dublin
The Government was tonight accused of being complacent about price rises after a report revealed goods in Dublin were on average 3.5% dearer than the rest of the country.
Labour Party senator Derek McDowell said spiralling prices were a major disincentive to working and living in the city with haircuts, beer and the cinema much more expensive than elsewhere.
“This Government has been totally complacent about price increases generally and indeed has contributed to increases in the cost of living through the imposition of a wide range of stealth charges,” the Senator said.
“We need a far more vigorous and proactive approach from the Government if the exploitation of consumers – not just in Dublin – but throughout the country is to be halted.”
The Central Statistics Office study recorded differences in prices for a range of goods and services.
Of the 73 items included in the survey, such as bread, fish, drink and the cost of a trip to the hairdressers, average prices were higher in Dublin for 40 of the items and lower for 33.
The biggest difference in prices was the cost of a trip to the cinema, with average prices in Dublin 19% more expensive than the rest of the country. A ladies hair wash, cut and blow-dry was also 17.5% more costly in the city than nationwide.
In Dublin, a half pint of lager was 13.9% more expensive than in the rest of the country while a pint cost 11.9% more in Dublin.
Richard Bruton, Fine Gael finance spokesman, said the study showed prices in Dublin were rising faster than anywhere else.
“The CSO figures reveal that a basket of goods and services is 3.5% more expensive in Dublin than the rest of the country. Given that the difference was only 3.1% last November, the cost of living in the capital is going up all the time,” he said.
“If this trend continues, the cost of living in Dublin will become significantly higher than for Ireland as a whole.”
