Budget 2020 has been announced and it includes a number of significant changes to health, housing, childcare and tax.
Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe is said to have considered families in this budget and aimed to lower living costs where possible.
However, a number of these measures won't be available until the end of next year.
However, it has been described as cautious with no "surprises" as the overall budget has been planned to forecast for a no-deal Brexit, including setting money aside for this scenario.
Health
- Free GP care for children under eight
- Free dental care for children under six
- Prescription charges cut by 50c for all people
- The medical card income thresholds for those over 70 will be increased by €50 for a single person or €150 for a couple per week with this expected to help 56,000 people
- Family's monthly Drug Payment Scheme to be reduced by €10
- Increase in home care hours in 2020
Education
- Over €11 billion to be provided to the Department of Education and Skills
- 1,000 special needs assistants
- 150 new teaching posts and an additional 400 to support children with special educational needs
Childcare
Subsidies are expected but due to the cautious nature of this budget, it could be November 2021 before these are introduced. However, increases to allowances for parents using creche and childcare facilities will be announced to coincide with the launch of the National Childcare Scheme.
Flexible working conditions
Supports will be made available for part-time with the aim of achieving "family-friendly working conditions".
Housing
- 2.5 billion will be allocated to the Housing Programme in 2020.
- A further €20m goes to emergency homeless services bringing the total funding to €166m in 2020.
- 11,000 new social homes to be built in 2020 with a further 12,000 in 2021
- The Help to Buy scheme is now extended for two years and will be in place, under its current terms, until 2021.
- An additional €80 million for the Housing Assistance Payment Scheme
Social Welfare
- 100 percent Christmas bonus this year for all social welfare recipients
- Increase of fuel allowance by €2 per week
- Increase of €5 for living alone allowance
Department of Children
- An additional €94 million of funding for the next year which includes an allocation for Túsla, the Child and Family Agency.
- Funding for early learning and childcare will increase by €54 million with aims including the continued provision of two years ECCE for children across the country and the introduction of the National Childcare Scheme.
